Nobuo Tsuji vs. Takashi Murakami: Battle Royale! Japanese Art History Francesco Bonami in their exploration of abstraction

in their exploration of abstraction and the readymade

The image has been die-cut so that its overall shape mimics the pixel-like edges of the flower

some of which were taken during the shooting of the film New York Beat (later renamed Downtown 81)

and another of Maranzano’s photos on the reverse—but manipulated by Carsten Höller to resemble a drunkenly viewed version of the original

Anna Weyant

Nobuo Tsuji vs. Takashi Murakami: Battle Royale! Japanese Art History Francesco Bonami in their exploration of abstractionFrom 2009 to 2011 Takashi Murakami and the eminent art historian Nobuo Tsuji engaged in a reimagined e awase (painting contest). In this twenty one round contest, Tsuji selected historical works and Murakami responded creatively. Originally published as Netto Nihon Bijutsu shi by Shinchsha in 2014, the battles have been translated into English by Christopher Stephens and Yuko Sakata for this publication.