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Mr. (Japanese, b.1969)
LOT ID: 78455
Untitled, 1996

Oil, on canvas.
19.7 х 25.6 in. cm.
Signed, and dated verso.
Lot description
"Untitled" (1996) is an important, early painting of an exuberant young girl, which encapsulates the oeuvre of famous Japanese Contemporary artist, 'Mr.' (Japan, b. 1969). This close-up portrait is painted in Mr.'s iconic "Superflat" manner with the girl's cartoonish facial features depicted against a vibrant orange background, her bright blue hair in pigtails. Mr.'s work tends to depict young boys and girls in an anime/manga style, as here. While cute on the surface, his works are typically quite sexualized, leaving it an open question as to how innocent his works are in the end. This painting is offered here for the first time on the secondary market, measures 19.70 x 25.60 inches (50 x 65 cm), is unframed and in perfect condition.

Mr. takes his pseudonym from former Yomiuri Giants baseball player Shigeo Nagashima, who was frequently referred to as "Mr. Giants". The artist was discovered in 1995 by Murakami and graduated from Sokei Art School in 1996. Mr.'s participation in Murakami's "Super Flat" exhibition in 2000 played a major role in earning him international recognition. Mr. has since exhibited internationally in both group and solo exhibitions including in 2005: "Little Boy: The Arts of Japan’s Exploding Subculture", at the Japan Society, New York; "RED HOT: Asian Art Today from the Chaney Family Collection", Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Texas in 2007; "KRAZY! The Delerious World of Anime + Comics + Video Games + Art", Vancouver Art Gallery, Canada in 2008; "Animate", Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Fukuoka, Japan in 2009; "Exhibition Kyoto-Tokyo: From Samurais to Mangas", Grimaldi Forum in and at Leeahn Gallery, Seoul, Korea both in 2010. Mr.'s work is represented in numerous public and private collections worldwide and is represented by the prestigious Lehmann Maupin Gallery and Galerie Perrotin. The artist lives and works in Saitama, just outside of Tokyo, Japan.

Payment and shipping are determined upon purchase. Winning bidder pays shipping fees, insurance in transit as desired, and taxes as applicable. Will ship world-wide.
Untitled by Mr.
  • Untitled by Mr.
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  • Mr.

    Games Are Permitted Up to One Hour a Day
    acrylic on canvas laid on aluminum frame
    (H 27.6, W 19.3, D 1.6) in.
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  • Mr.

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    acrylic on canvas
    (H 20.7, W 17.7) in.
    (52.5 x 45) cm.
    Sold for: US$35,421 €
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  • Mr.

    Untitled
    acrylic on canvas
    (H 27.6, W 19.3) in.
    (70.1 x 49) cm.
    Sold for: US$32,224 €
    Monday, October 04, 2010
    Sotheby's Hong Kong
    Lot 00749

  • Mr.

    You, me and the Japan Sea
    acrylic on canvas
    (H 28.5, W 24.0) in.
    (72.4 x 60.9) cm.
    Sold for: US$32,257 €
    Tuesday, October 06, 2009
    Sotheby's Hong Kong
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