Murakami Takashi "DOB totem pole" 2000
This is Murakami's work of four of DOBs stacked on top of one another as a totem pole. Each DOB expresses different emotions. The first one on the bottoms shows an emotion of being surprised with it's eyes dilated and mouth wide open. It's like his arms spread out in a stop motion. There is something about this pose that looks very innocent and kawaii with its disproportional body and simple facial features. As we progress up the image we see a completely different expression compared to the first one. The second Dob shows expresses of an unconscious lunatic. Its oversized teeth clenched, a very constircted pupil, and the other swirly-eyed. The strange expressions of this one gives off a comical feel. The third Dob morphs back to its kawaii character. This one seems like it is mocking the laughing flower in its hand, how its open mouth is shaped similarly to the flower, and its body also stiff like the stem of a flower. Lastly the last character is the most grotesque-looking. Dob is depicted with rows of sharp shark-like teeth and crazy eyes going in opposite directions.
All four versions of DOB look kawaii with its disproportional body, but as you move up the picture, the characters progress into different expressions. The bottom to top show a completely friendly and cute version morphed into a evil and crazy version of the character.
Nara Yoshitomo from drawing for Argentine Hag, 2002
This is one of Nara Yoshitomo's works of a drawing he created for Yoshimoto Banana's novel. This image depicts a very unhappy young girl. The background of this image is colored pink with pink floral patterns, giving off a childish and girly feel. There's a scary element to the girl's eyes. It's filled black and diluted, and not completely open. She has very pointed web-like tears on the bottom of her eyes, also adding on to a sharp and scary feeling.
Hey bora!!
ReplyDeletegreat job on your analysis! I also analyzed one of Murakami's image, and the DOBs in my image were also expressing different emotions. As you mentioned, I love how they are all still kawaii even if they are all showing different feelings.
I thought your second image was a little unexpected for all the girls in Nara's image i looked at had kawaii eyes. Yet, the girl in your picture has a very scary, demonic eyes. This image definitely portrays the loneliness/sadness of this girl.
Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteI think DOB is so cute (even in his grotesque form, haha). To me, the stop-motion in the first DOB seems to be like he's trying to keep his balance so the other DOBs won't fall and the crazy ones won't attack him for their falling?
The suddenness of the scary, lonely girl was unexpected. The loneliness of the little girl is very prominent. I was thinking of the loneliness the girl felt in the Yoshimoto Banana books that I have read, which isn't the same what this painting was created for. The eyes are dark and mysterious and the webs just intensify it even more. However, it seems like she is sitting at something or there is something in front of her with blood on it at the very bottom where her chest seems to be?
Hi!
ReplyDeleteThis DOB picture is so interesting. The first one on the bottom looks so innocent and cute but the others are crazy. But still, I agree that all of the DOB are ‘kawaii’. I also like the DOB’s pose! I think DOB’s big face and the little body also gives us the cute feeling.
This picture gives us a sad feeling. I agree that this scary element is from the girl’s eyes. She seems to be looking at the upward but actually unfocused. As Kelly mentioned, the blood adds the scary feeling too. I also think that on the left side of the background, some parts are lacking and I feel like something is falling apart.
Nice analyze!