THESIS PAPER 1ST DRAFT

Hsin-Wei Hsu

The outlines of my thesis paper
-Introduction
-Introduce Japanese subculture
-Takashi Murakami
-How Japanese subculture affect Taiwanese culture
-How Japanese subculture and Murakami affect my painting
-Conclusion


The Power of Japanese Subcluture In Contemporary Art

Introduction

Nowadays, Godzilla and Hello Kitty speak not only Japanese, but also English, Mandarin and Korean. Japanese subculture which includ comic, animation, movies, street fashion and toys seems to become international and have the individual character. Besides, it has been becoming a huge trend to influence the whole world. Many Japanese contemporary artists express ideas about their own subculture on their artwork and have positive responds. The most famous Japanese artist, Takashi Murakami, creates cartoon characters and vinyl figures in his exhibitions. His idea has great influence on the contemporary art, and inspire many contemporary artists which included me. As a Taiwanese, I can feel the influence from Japanese subculture storngly; this phenomenon is unavoidable, just like the culture invasion is nonstop. However, I think it is good, because Taiwanese culture is a mixed culture that we can accept different culture styles from other countries. It also affect my painting which contains some parts of Japanese teen culture. For instance, I use the falt style which is a characteristic of Japanese sublture and creat cartoon monsters in my painting. As a Taiwanese contemporary artist, I want to express the speciality of Taiwanese subculture.
Japanese subculture


Takashi Murakami
Takashi Murakami, who is the most famous Japanese contemporary fine artist, creats cartoonish characters in his artwork. Murakami announced "Superflact Manifesto" in his exhibitio in Tokyo in 2000. He asserted that 浮世繪 and Japanese contemporary comics have the same characteristics which were flat, delicated, detialed and implicated. Also, as the idea of Pop Art movement, he wanted to make art become more popularized. Accroding one study (Phoenix, 2006), Murakami inspired by popular Japanese culture, he said "Sometimes I feel like my work is an extension of popular culture. I think that as an artist, there is usually an element of examination. I enjoy connecting this fantasy cculture to more real discourses, such as history and art. This is also why I have tried to introduce Japanese pop culture to the world. Because it has many connections to concerns of undeniable relevancy." Murakami also wants to make art become popular, which as the same idea from Pop Art movement. He combines art and commercial, which transfer his unique cartoons on many products like pins, dolls, cards and vinly toys. He uses this way to make more and more people see and close art. Also, he has his own "factory", called Kaikai Kiki. In the factory, he raises many young artists, which provide them cases for working and opportunities for becoming famous.

How Japanese subculture affect Taiwanese culture
Japanese, who are good at promoting their productions, successfully sell their culture to other countries. It not only sell the authentic Japanese food, but also the animation, comics and toys. Taiwan, which located near Japan, cannot avoid the great culture trend from it. The history of Taiwanese culture is very complicated, which related to Chinese traditional culture, native Taiwanese culture and parts of Japanese colony culture. It is true that the most specific feature of Taiwan's culture is a multiculture. Recently, the power of Chian, Korea and Japan had been raising, which followed with culture invation, Taiwan has suffered the cultures from them. The most obviously facts happen in the young generation. For example, many youth follow the Japanese fashion, which wear Japanese brand and mimic the Japanese style; the comics in Taiwan are almost totally come from Japan, and so do the video games; some Japanese magazines and books even release at the same day in Japan.

How Japanese subculture and Murakami affect my painting
Murakami shows people the Japanese subcultur, I show people the the influence from Japanese subculture. I had been suffered the Japanese pop culture since I was a kid. I saw Japanese cartoons, read Japanese comics, played Japanese toys and video games. I enjoy those entertaining products which are made delicateliy and imaginative. When I am doing my painting, these enjoyable experience become my inspiration which give me the ideas about the relationship between reality and illusion. Through using cartoonish characters can show humorous and unformal feeling, which can make audience feel fun and relax. Also, by using the figurative and cartoons, I want to show the connection between the reality and irreality. As the idea from Pop Art movement and Murakami, I totally agree that art should be popular, everyone should enjoys art.

Conclusion
Culture invasion is unavoidable, espically the Japanese popular culture occupies Taiwan. As a victim of it, I do not feel upset. Instead of it, I enjoy the multiculture.