Gauntlet Gallery — Takashi Murakami Print Index
Sitting Pandas Here And There
Summary
"Sitting Pandas Here And There" (2020) is a Takashi Murakami screen print in an edition of 100, published through the artist's own Tonari No Zingaro imprint. Measuring 500×500mm at the sheet with a 406×264mm image, it distills Murakami's Superflat lexicon into a compact, repeat-motif composition of seated pandas, rendered in the crisp, flatly-inked register that defines his signature print output.
Why It Matters
The panda is one of Murakami's recurring characters, sitting alongside his flowers and jellyfish eyes within the Superflat vocabulary. Issued through Tonari No Zingaro, the artist's Nakano-based gallery and merchandising channel, this print reflects how Murakami controls distribution directly. The tight edition of 100 plus 25 AP and 25 SP keeps the total impression count deliberately low for a mainline release.
Collector Perspective
For collectors, the appeal lies in accessible format meeting a marquee name. The 50×50cm square sheet frames cleanly and suits contemporary interiors, while the Tonari No Zingaro provenance is a familiar and trusted source for Murakami works. The three-tier structure (ED100, AP25, SP25) matters at resale: standard-numbered impressions typically read differently from AP and SP designations, so verifying the annotation is essential.
Historical Context
By 2020 Murakami had spent two decades codifying Superflat, his theory collapsing the flatness of anime, Nihonga, and consumer graphics into a single plane. Tonari No Zingaro, opened in Tokyo's Nakano Broadway, became a primary vehicle for releasing limited prints and figures directly to fans. This panda print sits within that ecosystem of character-driven, editioned works produced during a prolific, globally distributed period of his practice.
FAQ
Who published this print?
It was published by Tonari No Zingaro, Takashi Murakami's own gallery and shop located in Nakano Broadway, Tokyo, which serves as a direct channel for his limited prints and collectibles.
How large is the edition?
The edition is 100 numbered impressions, with an additional 25 artist's proofs (AP) and 25 SP designations, per the source annotation ED100/AP25/SP25.
What are the dimensions?
The sheet measures 500×500mm (50×50cm), a square format, with the printed image measuring 406×264mm within that sheet.
What medium is it?
It is a screen print (silkscreen), the flat-color process well suited to Murakami's crisp, graphic Superflat imagery.
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.