Mr.
DOB

The Mr. DOB collection is significant as it gathers together various artworks which capture the development of Murakami’s cartoon character. Murakami has created many characters, however Mr. DOB is a particularly significant character and is often called Murakami’s alter-ego. A notable print in this collection is Me And Mr. Dob which depicts Murakami alongside Mr. Dob. Produced in 2010, Murakami and Mr. Dob are rendered in Murakami’s cartoon-like style. The pair are grinning widely, and their large round eyes imbue the print with a sense of excitement and euphoria. Murakami and Mr. DOB are presented against a background composed of hundreds of smiling flowers. Smiling flowers are a recurrent visual motif that runs throughout Murakami’s works and the icons have become closely associated with the artist’s name.

Mr. DOB evolved out of an unlikely event. Murakami’s friend bought an Apple computer and the two were fascinated by the concept of being able to use the computer to create a line that could not be produced by hand. They wanted to create a character that was free from any trace of human influence and could be reproduced thousands of times, essentially eliminating the hand of the artist from the artwork.

Murakami’s interest in hiding or obscuring the role of the artist from the artwork resonates with Murakami’s goal of absolute perfection. In 1996, Murakami created a large studio called the Hiropon Factory, which became the KaiKai Kiki factory in 2001. Through this factory-sized studio, Murakami was able to train a team of over 100 technicians to help him mass produce his artworks. All of his prints use the same printing techniques, and he employs a team of technicians to clean each print with a Q-tip, ensuring that any smudges are removed. By incorporating this large team into his production process, Murakami questions the role of the artist, privileging instead a collaborative approach to art in which there is no single ‘hand of the artist’.

Murakami’s search for perfection, interest in repetition and goal of mass production has led to comparisons between the artist and Andy Warhol, the father of the Pop Art movement. Murakami has even been hailed the ‘Warhol of Japan’ and there are notable similarities between his artistic style and that of Warhol, most notably, their use of bright and bold colours and their incorporation of everyday subjects and popular culture into their works.

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