ANDY WARHOL, KIKU (F. & S. II.308), KIKU SERIES, SCREEN PRINT, EDITION OF 300, 1983
Kiku (F. & S. II.308) is a screen print from Andy Warhol’s Kiku series (1983). Warhol’s career-long fascination with flowers prompted Fujio Watanuki, the founder of the Gendai Hanga Centre in Tokyo, to commission the series based on the motif of the Japanese flower,chrysanthemum (‘kiku’ in Japanese). This print shows a delicate display of two pink chrysanthemums, one against a grey background and one against a bright blue and magenta, as symbols for Japanese imperial power, rendered in his classic aesthetic of colour-field patterning and precious multi-coloured silhouettes.
Kiku (F. & S. II.308) contrasts with Warhol’s earlier iterations of flower subjects as it exhibits a peaceful, elegant atmosphere and is created on a much smaller scale so as to adhere to conventional Japanese living spaces. As well as symbolising the Japanese Emperor, the chrysanthemum is representative of longevity, rejuvenation and the autumn season. This is reflected in Warhol’s harmonising colour choice of blue, pink, grey, orange and red and emphasis on hand drawn lines that overpower the photographic element of this piece.
First visiting Japan in 1956 whilst travelling around the world, Warhol returned for a second time in 1974 for a solo exhibition at the Daimaru Department Store. This series is indicative of Warhol’s global influence and that he was much admired by Japanese collectors and gallerists.
Find out more by Kiku by Andy Warhol.
ABOUT ANDY WARHOL
Andy Warhol (born Andrew Warhola) is a name synonymous with the celebrity culture and mass consumerism which coloured the boulevards of New York City in the Post World War II era. Born into a working class immigrant family in the urban landscape around the bustling metropolis, Warhol’s early life was characterised by a climb up the capitalist rungs of society.
The artist himself noted, “buying is more American than thinking, and I’m as American as they come”, this quote came to demarcate Warhol’s artistic practice as he embraced the commodification of the American Dream. The Pop artist’s beginnings in the business sector gave him the practical skill set to experiment with a more commercial approach to art throughout his career, particularly with regards to screen printing. Read more about Andy Warhol.
