Shinji Murakami

Born 1980, Osaka, Japan. Currently lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.

Shinji Murakami’s work springboards from the philosophy Lateral Thinking     with Withered Technology of Gunpei Yokoi, inventor of Nintendo’s Game & Watch and Game Boy. In this context, withered technology refers to mature technology that is cheap and well understood, and lateral thinking is the finding of radical new ways to use such tech. Murakami considers his practice a lateral thinking interrogation of the pixelated expressions in 8-bit video games.

In 2021, Murakami went one step further by producing his own games for the Atari 2600 console. These original games serve as source material for works in sculpture, painting and LED light that bring the game into the physical exhibition space. His paintings include portals on their surfaces, which are opened on smartphones using the latest in AR technology. In this way, Murakami attempts to expand the possibilities of expression by transforming the art exhibition into a constant happening, where the visitor experiences the artwork while becoming part of it.

In addition to his studio practice, since 2016, Murakami has collaborated with multiple partners who interface directly with the public, including Salesforce and The Standard Hotel, to create site-specific installations that engage with a broad audience across 20+ countries. Harnessing universal motifs and culture-responsive elements in a minimalist post-pop hand, he re-interprets the aesthetics of each context, reassessing the role of the artist within contemporary art.

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