Mr.

Biography

Mr. first made his impression in the contemporary art scene with a collection of drawings of anime-style girl characters using the backs of shopping receipts he had gathered from his day-to-day purchases. The blending of a Lolita complex and otaku culture in his works was praised by UCLA's Paul McCarthy as having "an unbearable irresistibility in its tiny, innocent world."

The Otaku subculture emerged in Japan in the 1970s and consisted mostly of males who were consumed by manga comics, anime animation, sci-fi literature and video games. Mr.'s large-eyed characters and flat color fields are influenced by this movement and its Lolita-esque fascination with adolescents. The cheerful boys with their pants down and girls in short skirts appear sexually provocative, asking the viewer to question whether the work is a comment on Otaku culture or an exploration of Mr.'s fantasy world.

Mr. lives and works in Saitama, just outside of Tokyo. He graduated from the Department of Fine Arts, Sokei Art School in Tokyo in 1996. Mr. was discovered by Takashi Murakami in 1995 and since then has been involved with Murakami's art organization Kaikai Kiki, as both a represented artist and a pivotal staff member. Recently, Mr.'s work was on view at the Musée d'Art Contemporain de Lyon with fellow Kaikai Kiki artists Chiho Aoshima and Aya Takano. In 2005, he was included in the acclaimed exhibition Little Boy: The Arts of Japan's Exploding Subculture at Japan Society in New York. Mr.'s work is represented in numerous public and private collections worldwide. To download artist's CV, please click on "Printable PDF of Full Text"
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Gallery Exhibitions

• Frieze Art Fair 2010, Booth B13 - October 14 - 17, 2010
• Hong Kong International Art Fair, Hall 3B-3E Booth D02 - May 27 - 30, 2010
• Mr., Nobody Dies - November 6, 2008 - February 21, 2009
• Art 39 Basel, Hall 2.1 Booth F2 - June 4 - 8, 2008
• The Armory Show 2008 - March 27 - 30, 2008
• Mr. - May 3 - June 23, 2007

Museum Exhibitions

• Frieze Art Fair 2010, Booth B13 - October 14 - 17, 2010
• Hong Kong International Art Fair, Hall 3B-3E Booth D02 - May 27 - 30, 2010
• Mr., Nobody Dies - November 6, 2008 - February 21, 2009
• Art 39 Basel, Hall 2.1 Booth F2 - June 4 - 8, 2008
• The Armory Show 2008 - March 27 - 30, 2008
• Mr. - May 3 - June 23, 2007

Press

• New York Times Magazine Download PDF ()
• New York Times Download PDF ()
• Modern Painters Download PDF ()
• Miami New Times Download PDF ()
• Lapiz
• Contemporary Download PDF ()
• ArtReview Download PDF ()
• Art+Auction Download PDF ()
• Art in America Download PDF ()
• Art Asia Pacific Download PDF ()

Selected Works

MR. Catch Mr In The Night Sky, 2010 acrylic on canvas 59.06 inches (diameter) 150 cm Signed and dated on the reverse © 2009 Mr. /Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. LM13089


MR. I Was Born In a Town On A Hill, 2010 watercolor and pencil on paper 16.54 x 11.69 inches (paper) 42 x 29.7 cm © 2010 Mr. /Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. LM13261


MR. Clear Autumn Skies, 2010 watercolor, pencil and acrylic on paper 16.5 x 11.69 inches (paper) 41.9 x 29.7 cm 19.5 x 14.5 x 1.5 inches (framed) 49.5 x 36.8 x 3.8 cm signed and dated on the lower right side © 2010 Mr. /Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. LM13092


MR. Winter Sunset, 2010 watercolor, pencil and acrylic on paper 16.5 x 11.69 inches (paper) 41.9 x 29.7 cm 19.5 x 14.5 x 1.5 inches (framed) 49.5 x 36.8 x 3.8 cm signed and dated on the lower right side © 2010 Mr. /Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. LM13093


MR. Late Summer, 2010 watercolor, pencil and acrylic on paper 16.5 x 11.69 inches (paper) 41.9 x 29.7 cm 19.5 x 14.5 x 1.5 inches (framed) 49.5 x 36.8 x 3.8 cm signed and dated on the lower right side © 2010 Mr. /Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. LM13091


MR. In The Spring Sunlight, 2010 watercolor, pencil and acrylic on paper 16.5 x 11.69 inches (paper) 41.9 x 29.7 cm 19.5 x 14.5 x 1.5 inches (framed) 49.5 x 36.8 x 3.8 cm signed and dated on the lower right side © 2010 Mr. /Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. LM13090


MR. Shimmering Heat Haze, 2009 acrylic on canvas 35.43 x 24.61 inches 90 x 62.5 cm Signed and dated on the reverse © 2009 Mr. /Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. LM12869


MR. Glancing at your cheeks / I can start to feel my heart / change just like the leaves, 2009 acrylic on canvas mounted on aluminum frame 19.29 x 27.56 x 1.5 inches 49 x 70 x 3.8 cm © 2009 Mr. /Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. LM12741


MR. The Day Is Getting Long, 2009 acrylic on canvas 35.43 x 24.61 inches 90 x 62.5 cm Signed and dated on the reverse © 2009 Mr. /Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. LM12868


MR. After Swimming, 2008 watercolor, acrylic, pencil and pen on paper 14.92 x 10.94 inches (paper) 37.9 x 27.8 cm 18.25 x 14.5 x 1.25 inches (framed) 46.4 x 36.8 x 3.2 cm LM11348 (c) 2008 MR./Kaikai Kiki., Ltd. All Rights Reserved


MR. Before Snack Time, 2008 watercolor and pencil on paper 14.96 x 10.91 inches (paper) 38 x 27.7 cm 19 x 15 inches (framed) 48.3 x 38.1 cm LM11294 (c) 2008 MR./Kaikai Kiki., Ltd. All Rights Reserved


MR. 8:32 am, 2008 watercolor and pencil on paper 14.92 x 10.94 inches (paper) 37.9 x 27.8 cm 19 x 15 inches (framed) 48.3 x 38.1 cm LM11297 (c) 2008 MR./Kaikai Kiki., Ltd. All Rights Reserved


MR. Field Day, 2008 watercolor and pencil on paper 14.96 x 10.91 inches (paper) 38 x 27.7 cm 19 x 15 inches (framed) 48.3 x 38.1 cm LM11299 (c) 2008 MR./Kaikai Kiki., Ltd. All Rights Reserved


You Girls, 2007 acrylic on canvas 63.82 x 89.53 x 1.34 inches (c) 2007 MR./Kaikai Kiki., Ltd. All Rights Reserved


MR. I know her secret, 2007 acrylic on canvas 66.9 x 27.8 inches 170 x 70.5 cm (c) 2007 Mr. /Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. LM10761


MR. Ah, Akihabara, 2007 acrylic on canvas 114.6 x 286.3 inches 291 x 727.2 cm (c) 2007 Mr. /Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. LM10673


MR. It hurts when it hits bare skin, 2007 acrylic on canvas 70.9 x 141.7 inches 180 x 360 cm (c) 2007 Mr. /Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. LM10951


MR. Look at how much we raised!, 2007 acrylic on canvas 44.09 x 57.28 inches 112 x 145.5 cm LM10490 (c) 2007 MR./Kaikai Kiki., Ltd. All Rights Reserved


MR. Fund-raising for the heart– Maid café, 2007 acrylic on canvas 66.9 x 27.8 inches 170 x 70.5 cm (c) 2007 Mr. /Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. LM10763


First time ever, 2007 acrylic on canvas 39.4 x 31.6 inches (c) 2007 MR./Kaikai Kiki., Ltd. All Rights Reserved


A field close to heaven– Dreams and Reality, 2007 acrylic on canvas 66.9 x 27.8 inches (c) 2007 MR./Kaikai Kiki., Ltd. All Rights Reserved


MR. Hiromi and Nau's Summer, 2007 acrylic on canvas 46 x 36 inches 116.8 x 91.4 cm (c) 2007 Mr. /Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. LM10949


MR. Strawberry Voice, 2007 FRP, iron, various materials 116.14 x 104.72 x 112.6 inches 295 x 266 x 286 cm © 2007 Mr. /Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. LM10724


MR. Young Sister - Very Nice - Fruit, 2006 acrylic on tarp 99.02 x 139.37 inches 251.5 x 354 cm (c) 2006 MR./Kaikai Kiki., Ltd. All Rights Reserved LM11375


MR. "Penyo-Henyo" Spring Breeze Edition "Buddies", 2004-2007 Fiberglass, steel, acrylic resin, iron, various fabrics 83.5 x 31.5 x 34.1 inches 212 x 80 x 86.5 cm (c) 2004-2007 Mr. /Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. LM10680


New Tokyo Ferry Terminal (Ariake 4-chrome), 2004-2005 39.37 x 57.87 x 69.69 inches (c) 2004 MR./Kaikai Kiki., Ltd. All Rights Reserved

Available Works

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MR. Team rabbit, 2008 c-print mounted on aluminum 37.46 x 50.71 inches (paper) 95.16 x 128.8 cm 45.5 x 59 inches (framed) 115.6 x 149.9 cm Edition of 5 © 2008 Mr. /Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. LM12036 To inquire about this work please contact sales@lehmannmaupin.com

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MR. Together also at school, 2008 c-print mounted on aluminum 37.46 x 50.71 inches (paper) 95.16 x 128.8 cm 45.5 x 59 inches (framed) 115.6 x 149.9 cm Edition of 5 © 2008 Mr. /Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. LM12037 To inquire about this work please contact sales@lehmannmaupin.com

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MR. Celebration at the Oden Food Stall, 2008 c-print mounted on aluminum 37.46 x 50.71 inches (paper) 95.16 x 128.8 cm 45.5 x 59 inches (framed) 115.6 x 149.9 cm Edition of 5 © 2008 Mr. /Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. LM12038 To inquire about this work please contact sales@lehmannmaupin.com