Offset lithograph with silver on paper, hand signed by Takashi Murakami. Numbered edition of 300. Published by Kaikai Kiki Co. Ltd, Japan.
The And Then... series by Takashi Murakami is one of his most iconic creations, featuring Mr. DOB, a character that embodies the fusion of Japanese mass culture and contemporary art. Conceived as a hybrid between anime characters, consumerist iconography, and influences from traditional Japanese art, Mr. DOB has become a symbol of Murakami’s visual discourse and his Superflat theory.
At first glance, the series captivates with its vibrant aesthetics and apparent simplicity. Saturated colors, rounded forms, and balanced compositions evoke the world of entertainment, referencing the kawaii universe. However, upon closer examination, Mr. DOB’s figure reveals a disturbing evolution. What initially appears as an innocent image begins to distort with each iteration: his face multiplies, his smile becomes exaggerated, and his expression fluctuates between playful and unsettling. In some versions, the character fragments to the point of becoming unrecognizable, saturating the surface with chaotic energy that seems to expand uncontrollably.
This transformation reflects one of Murakami’s core artistic concerns: the tension between cuteness and monstrosity, between commercialism and artistry, between identity and dissolution. Mr. DOB, with his anime and manga-inspired aesthetics, serves as a commentary on how contemporary visual culture has been absorbed and reshaped by market logic. His image, repeated endlessly, alludes to processes of homogenization and mass reproduction, where the original dissolves into a sea of copies.
Beyond its visual impact, And Then... embodies Murakami’s critique of consumer society and globalization. The series not only reflects the influence of capitalism on Japanese culture but also highlights how the boundary between art and entertainment has become increasingly blurred. In this sense, Murakami’s work engages with the tradition of Pop Art, yet his approach goes beyond merely appropriating popular imagery: here, mass culture is not just a subject of representation but the very medium through which art is created and distributed.
Over time, And Then... has become one of Murakami’s most recognized series, achieving significant relevance in the contemporary art market. Its images, reproduced in various formats, have been exhibited in galleries and museums worldwide, solidifying its status as a landmark of contemporary art. In a context where the boundaries between exclusivity and mass production are increasingly blurred, the series continues to provoke questions about the role of art in the age of reproduction and global consumption.
