Gauntlet Gallery — Takashi Murakami Print Index
Snow, Moon, and Flower: Kaikai and Kiki Viewing the Moon (First Edition)
Summary
Released in 2022 through Murakami's own Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd, this square print pairs the artist's signature mascots Kaikai and Kiki in a moon-viewing (tsukimi) scene. Executed as a combined archival pigment print and silkscreen at 58.9 x 58.9 cm in an edition of 100, it belongs to a three-work series themed on the classic Japanese aesthetic triad of snow, moon, and flower (setsugekka).
Why It Matters
The print sits at the intersection of Murakami's Superflat pop language and deep-rooted Japanese classical themes. Setsugekka (snow, moon, flower) is a centuries-old poetic shorthand for seasonal beauty, and staging it through Kaikai and Kiki lets Murakami fold traditional aesthetics into his own character universe. As one panel of a deliberate triptych-style series, it rewards collectors who track works meant to be read together.
Collector Perspective
An edition of 100 keeps this firmly in scarce territory for a modern Murakami print, and the Kaikai and Kiki pairing is among his most recognizable and collectible motifs. The dual archival-pigment-plus-silkscreen process gives it a richer surface than a straight offset print. Collectors drawn to the piece often aim to assemble the full snow-moon-flower series rather than hold a single panel.
Historical Context
By 2022 Murakami was decades into building Kaikai Kiki both as a studio and as a namesake for his mascot duo, first introduced in the early 2000s. His practice has long braided nihonga training and Edo-period painting with contemporary character culture. Moon-viewing imagery and the setsugekka triad connect this print to a lineage of Japanese seasonal art that Murakami repeatedly reinterprets through his flat, saturated pop idiom.
FAQ
What does the snow, moon, and flower theme mean?
Setsugekka (snow, moon, flower) is a classical Japanese aesthetic triad evoking the beauty of the four seasons, drawn from waka poetry and later painting. Murakami built this work as one of a three-part series on that motif, with this panel depicting the moon-viewing (tsukimi) scene.
Who are Kaikai and Kiki?
Kaikai and Kiki are Murakami's original mascot characters and the namesakes of his studio, Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. They appear frequently across his prints and sculptures, and here they are shown viewing the moon.
What is the edition size and medium?
The First Edition is limited to 100. It is produced as a combined archival pigment print and silkscreen, measuring 58.9 x 58.9 cm (sheet), with an image area of roughly 47.5 x 47.5 cm.
Is this part of a set?
Yes. The source material describes a three-work series built around the snow, moon, and flower motif, so this moon-viewing print is intended to be read alongside its two companion panels.
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.