Takashi Murakami

New York, NY (May 24, 2006)—Takashi Murakami’s studio, Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd., is participating in the VOLTAshow 02 during Art Basel this June, marking the studio’s second time to participate in an organized art fair outside of Japan since it was established in 2001. After a successful experience at the NADA art fair in Miami in December 2005, where Kaikai Kiki featured works and a special performance by Mahomi Kunikata, the studio will present a thematic booth at VOLTA that highlights the work of successful GEISAI artists, as a special preview to GEISAI #10, Kaikai Kiki’s unique, bi-annual art fair that will take place on September 17, 2006 in Tokyo.

To celebrate the 10th incarnation of GEISAI, the studio will transform its booth at VOLTA into a “Mini-GEISAI”, where visitors can observe the works of young artists that found success and gained exposure through their experience at GEISAI in previous years. The booth will present new works by two Kaikai Kiki artists who made their art world debuts in GEISAI: Mahomi Kunikata (Bronze winner, GEISAI #2) and Rei Sato (Scout Prize Winner, GEISAI #1). Kunikata has since shown her work internationally in several group exhibitions, including Little Boy at Japan Society in New York in 2005 and J’en Rêve at the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain in Paris in 2005, as well as her solo exhibition at NADA in December 2005. Sato has participated in Coloriage at the Fondation Cartier in 2002, as well as various other group shows.

The works of other successful GEISAI artists will also be on view, including Erina Matsui, winner of the Gold prize at GEISAI #6, Soichi Yamaguchi, winner of the Gold prize at GEISAI #9, Jun’ichi Saito, winner of the François Pinault Prize at GEISAI #9, and Ayako Rokkaku, winner of the Scout prizes at GEISAI #9. Special performances, such as live-painting, and Mahomi Kunikata’s unique Sushi video, will be part of the studio’s fair program as well.

About GEISAI:
Considered an art fair with a twist, GEISAI is a one-day event that showcases around 1,000 artists, as well as galleries, and is held twice a year in Tokyo. Created in 2002 by Takashi Murakami and one of Japan’s few art fairs, GEISAI is an attempt to energize the Japanese art market by bringing together hundreds of individual and commercial booths, thousands of visiting art connoisseurs and professionals, an international cast of judges, and presenting live performances. For more information on GEISAI, please visit www.geisai.net (Japanese) or www2.geisai.net (English)

About Kaikai Kiki:
Kaikai Kiki was founded by Takashi Murakami in 2001, and evolved from its predecessor, the Hiropon Factory. Its goals as an enterprise include the production and promotion of artwork, the management and support of select young artists, general management of events and projects, and the production and promotion of merchandise. With bases in Japan’s Asaka City, Long Island City, New York, and Daikanyama, Tokyo; Kaikai Kiki is a unique organization looking to the future to broaden the horizons of contemporary art. For more information on Kaikai Kiki, please visit www.kaikaikiki.co.jp.

About VOLTAshow 02 Basel 2006
The VOLTAshow 02 will take place from June 14-18, 2006, at ULTRA BRAG, Südquaistrasse 55, CH – 4019 Basel, a new, larger location on the riverfront. For more information on VOLTA, please visit www.voltashow.com.

###

For further information, images, and interviews:

Media Contact:
Antoine Vigne or Lucy Toole
Blue Medium, Inc.
T: 212-675-1800
F: 212-675-1855
lucy@bluemedium.com

Kaikai Kiki was founded by Takashi Murakami in 2001, and evolved from its predecessor, the Hiropon Factory. Its goals as an enterprise include the production and promotion of artwork, the management and support of select young artists, general management of events and projects, and the production and promotion of merchandise. With bases in Japan’s Asaka City, Long Island City, New York, and Daikanyama, Tokyo; Kaikai Kiki is a unique organization looking to the future to broaden the horizons of contemporary art.

For an in depth explanation, see Kaikai Kiki (PDF)