Gauntlet Gallery — Takashi Murakami Print Index
Melting DOB (First Edition)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
"Melting DOB (First Edition)" is a 2021 painted cast-vinyl sculpture from Takashi Murakami, published by Perrotin in an edition of 300 and produced in Japan by Kaikai Kiki Co. Ltd. Standing roughly 31.5 cm tall on a metallic disk stand, it renders Mr. DOB — the artist's foundational avatar — as a molten swirl of red and blue whose warped white rings spell out the character's own name.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: The dual-personality figure, in a limited edition of 300, was made in Japan by Kaikai Kiki Co. Edition-specific signature, numbering, and stamp details were not stated in the saved release record. Verify signing and numbering against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
Mr. DOB is Murakami's origin point — the self-portrait-as-mascot he introduced in the early 1990s to interrogate Japanese consumer identity. This 2021 figure marks the character's 28th anniversary, reframing DOB not as a fixed logo but as a liquefying form. It compresses Murakami's core themes — Superflat, otaku culture, brand-as-art — into a single tabletop object.
Collector Perspective
The dual-faced design is the draw here: one profile bares carnivorous fangs and clashing eyes for a maniacal read, while the reverse turns half-lidded and roguish. Collectors get two "moods" in one object, rewarding rotation and display flexibility. As an edition of 300 released through Perrotin, it sits in a desirable band — scarce enough to matter, accessible enough to enter a focused DOB collection.
Historical Context
Murakami built Mr. DOB from Japanese slang and cartoon lineage, evolving the character across paintings, plush, and vinyl for three decades. His Superflat theory collapsed the boundary between fine art and commercial graphics, and DOB became its recurring test case. The "melting" treatment continues a long thread in which Murakami distorts, multiplies, and mutates his signature motif to keep it unstable and alive.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned sculpture / object
- Release date
- 2021
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Sculpture | Vinyl Toy; catalog dimensions 25.3 x 31.5 x 18.1 cm; Medium: Painted cast vinyl with metallic disk stand.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: The dual-personality figure, in a limited edition of 300, was made in Japan by Kaikai Kiki Co.
- Signature and marks
- Edition-specific signature, numbering, and stamp details were not stated in the saved release record. Verify signing and numbering against a documented example of this edition.
Documented History and Meaning
History note: This page treats Takashi Murakami's broader career as background context, not proof that this specific edition belongs to any single exhibition or event. Release-level facts here come from a saved secondary catalog record.
Meaning / interpretation: No per-work artist statement is recorded for this edition. Any thematic reading should be treated as interpretation of the imagery, not a documented statement of the artist's intent. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2021 and attributes the edition to Perrotin.
Authentication, Presentation and Provenance
- Original presentation
- Original packaging or presentation was not documented in the release sources reviewed.
- Authentication note
- Compare the support, dimensions, edition number, and signature against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet Gallery does not authenticate works purchased from third parties.
- Provenance note
- Edition origin is attributed in the saved record to Perrotin. That does not establish the ownership history of an individual copy: retain the original invoice, reseller or gallery paperwork, labels, correspondence, and condition photographs.
Sources and Verification
Verification status: Secondary catalog snapshot; artist-level context added
- Saved release record — Art Collectorz · secondary catalog snapshot · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Starting record for title, year, edition, dimensions, medium, and release description. Primary confirmation against the original release page remains pending.
- Kaikai Kiki — official studio site — Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. · primary artist source · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Official studio/company site; career context, not an individual-edition record.
- Takashi Murakami — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
- Takashi Murakami (Q352437) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.
FAQ
What is Mr. DOB and why does he appear melting?
Mr. DOB is Murakami's first signature character, functioning as an artist avatar. The melting treatment distorts DOB's familiar rings and features into swirling red and blue, marking the character's 28th anniversary and reflecting Murakami's habit of mutating his own motifs.
How large is the edition and who produced it?
The First Edition was released in a limited run of 300, published by Perrotin and made in Japan by Kaikai Kiki Co. Ltd., Murakami's own studio and production company.
What material is the figure made from?
It is painted cast vinyl mounted on a metallic disk stand, measuring approximately 25.3 x 31.5 x 18.1 cm including the stand.
Why does the figure have two different faces?
By design, the sculpture is dual-personality: one side shows fangs and polychromatic eyes for a maniacal look, while the other shows half-lidded eyes and a roguish grin, giving collectors two distinct expressions in one object.
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