By Fallon Kim, Senior Arts Correspondent
CLEVELAND, OH — May 21, 2025 — A kaleidoscope of color and culture has arrived at the Cleveland Museum of Art with the opening of “Takashi Murakami: Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow.” This visually stunning exhibition brings the internationally acclaimed Japanese artist’s signature style to the Midwest, offering an immersive fusion of classical Japanese iconography with modern pop art.
Takashi Murakami, often dubbed the “Warhol of Japan,” is known for his Superflat aesthetic, which seamlessly blends traditional Japanese art techniques with the pop vibrancy of manga, anime, and consumer culture. The Cleveland exhibit presents this fusion in full force, delighting audiences with an experience that is both visually arresting and emotionally resonant.
A Fusion of Heritage and Hypermodern
The highlight of the exhibition is an architectural re-creation of the Yumedono, or “Hall of Dreams,” originally found at Hōryūji Temple in Nara, Japan. This centerpiece installation greets visitors in the museum’s atrium and provides a gateway into Murakami’s multidimensional vision.
Within this sacred-inspired structure, four new paintings reinterpret traditional Japanese animal motifs with a contemporary flair. Tigers, dragons, and phoenixes leap from the canvas, their forms stylized in the artist’s distinct pop-meets-priestly palette. Each image bridges centuries of spiritual art and modern sensibility, paying homage to Buddhist visual traditions while embracing the aesthetics of 21st-century digital life.
Exploring the Cultural Response to Crisis
Murakami’s work has long addressed the fallout from trauma—both personal and collective. In Cleveland, this theme is presented in powerful clarity. Several works respond directly to catastrophic events in Japanese history, including the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the center of the exhibit is the monumental 82-foot-long painting “In the Land of the Dead, Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow.” This sprawling canvas acts as a narrative scroll, depicting mythical figures and haunting spirits that reflect the psychological and cultural aftershocks of these tragedies. The painting’s vivid color palette—dominated by brilliant golds, blazing reds, and deep blues—conveys both destruction and resilience, sorrow and rebirth.
Engaging With the Past, Imagining the Future
Another hallmark of this exhibit is its dynamic interplay with the museum’s permanent Japanese art collection. Murakami drew direct inspiration from several artifacts on display, reinterpreting ancient scrolls, screens, and sculpture through his distinct postmodern lens.
This artistic dialogue between Murakami’s contemporary pieces and classical Japanese art creates a layered viewing experience. Visitors are invited to reflect on the continuity and transformation of artistic traditions over centuries. Where classical works evoke stillness and reverence, Murakami’s interpretations burst with motion and exuberance, yet both share the same spiritual DNA.
A Community-Centered Celebration
To make the exhibit accessible and engaging to a wide audience, the Cleveland Museum of Art has scheduled regular docent-led tours every Friday through Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. These sessions provide historical background, interpretive insights, and behind-the-scenes anecdotes about Murakami’s creative process.
In a nod to the artist’s wide appeal across ages, the museum is also distributing exclusive Murakami trading cards to the first 50,000 guests. These limited-edition collectibles are already a hit with young fans and collectors alike, adding a playful dimension to the cultural experience.
A Must-See Experience Through September
“Takashi Murakami: Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow” runs through September 7, 2025. The exhibition is expected to draw visitors from across the region, bolstering Cleveland’s reputation as a hub for world-class art and innovation. Murakami’s dazzling display invites audiences not only to view art but to step inside it—walking a rainbow-colored path between history, fantasy, and the future.
