Gauntlet Gallery — Takashi Murakami Print Index
Memento Mori (Off White)
Summary
"Memento Mori (Off White)" is a 2018 screen print by Takashi Murakami, issued in an edition of 100 through the artist's own Hidari Zingaro imprint. Measuring roughly 46.8 x 36.8 cm on the sheet with a 37.3 x 28.7 cm image, it channels the Latin "remember you must die" through Murakami's signature grinning skulls, rendered here in a restrained off-white register that quiets his usual chromatic exuberance.
Why It Matters
The Memento Mori series is where Murakami's Superflat vocabulary meets a centuries-old vanitas tradition, translating Buddhist impermanence and European death iconography into repeating cartoon skulls. The off-white colorway is notable precisely because it withholds spectacle: by draining the palette, Murakami foregrounds pattern, rhythm, and the philosophical premise. It shows the artist reasoning through mortality rather than merely decorating it, a quieter counterweight to his flower and DOB works.
Collector Perspective
With an edition of 100, this sits among Murakami's tighter print runs, and its Zingaro-only distribution appeals to collectors who value works released directly through the artist's ecosystem rather than large commercial editions. The muted off-white tone is a considered acquisition: it rewards buyers seeking a more subdued, tonal Murakami over the neon flower prints, and pairs well within a focused skulls-and-memento-mori grouping.
Historical Context
Released in 2018, this print belongs to Murakami's mature period, decades after he formalized the Superflat theory in the early 2000s. Hidari Zingaro, part of his Kaikai Kiki gallery network in Nakano, Tokyo, has long served as a channel for artist-priced editions. The skull motif recurs across his output in this era, echoing the death-and-rebirth themes that also run through his large-scale paintings and Buddhist-inflected imagery.
FAQ
What is the edition size of Memento Mori (Off White)?
It was released in an edition of 100 as a silkscreen (screen print), per the Hidari Zingaro listing.
Who published this print?
It was issued through Hidari Zingaro, part of Takashi Murakami's Kaikai Kiki gallery network in Tokyo, as an artist-priced special edition.
What are the dimensions?
The sheet measures approximately 46.8 x 36.8 cm (468 x 368 mm), with an image size of about 37.3 x 28.7 cm (373 x 287 mm).
What does the off-white colorway signify?
The muted off-white palette departs from Murakami's characteristic neon brights, emphasizing the repeating skull pattern and the vanitas theme over color spectacle. Multiple colorways of Memento Mori exist.
About the Artist
Takashi Murakami (b. 1962, Tokyo) is one of the most influential artists of the postwar era, credited with dissolving the boundary between fine art and popular culture. Trained in Nihonga, the tradition of Japanese painting, he earned a PhD from the Tokyo University of the Arts before formulating Superflat — a theory connecting the flattened perspective of Edo-period painting to the visual language of anime, manga, and consumer culture. Through his studio and company Kaikai Kiki, Murakami has produced paintings, sculpture, film, and a vast catalogue of prints populated by recurring characters such as Mr. DOB, his smiling flowers, and the mascots Kaikai and Kiki. His high-profile collaborations — with Louis Vuitton, Kanye West, and others — helped define the modern intersection of art, fashion, and streetwear.
Collecting Takashi Murakami at Gauntlet Gallery
Where can I buy authentic Takashi Murakami prints?
Gauntlet Gallery sources Murakami prints and editions through established secondary-market channels and vets each piece for authenticity and condition before listing.
How are Murakami prints authenticated?
Most Kaikai Kiki editions are numbered and accompanied by documentation. We verify edition details, publisher, and condition, and note any certificates or stamps present on the individual piece.
What drives value in a Murakami print?
Edition size, character (flowers, Mr. DOB, and Kaikai/Kiki motifs are especially sought), production quality (silkscreen and cold-stamp finishes over plain offset), condition, and any collaboration or exhibition tie-in all influence collector demand.