See Murakami's "Ego" on Display (and Fashion Your Reaction at 3rd Ward)

Murakami's most recent exhibition, "Ego," comes on the heels of two major retrospectives at MoCA and Versailles, both extremely well attended shows, as we're sure this next one will be--even if fans have to travel all the way to Doha, Qatar to see it. There are many familiar faces in his bright and shiny anime wonderland (or nightmare, depending on who you ask); the flowerballs, mushrooms and bunny-suited characters are back, appearing both in 3D and in Murakami's signature superflat paintings. 

Those looking to see something new won't have to search hard as a 328-foot-long painting wraps around three walls of the exhibition space. It's apparently a response to the recent natural disasters that have hit Japan, which explains its size as well as its other monstrous qualities. But before you feast your eyes on three walls of an acid trip gone wrong, you have to make your way around Murakami's gigantic ass--no joke. A 20-foot-tall inflatable self-portrait "greets" visitors as they enter. According to Murakami, the exhibition is "a dialogue with one's own ego," a conversation that seems to have soured over the years. 

For those who think they can take on Murakami's expansive paintings and gigantic (inflatable) "Ego," just so happens we've got one or two classes for that. A handful of painting classes are still open as well as the ever-instantly-filled-up "Inflatable Sculpture" class.

We've got a feeling you might have a healthier relationship with your "Ego" then good ol' Murakami. Why not find out?

-- Perrin Drumm