Murakami is personally selecting a roster of artists who will donate works to be auctioned. All proceeds from the special sale, including works made by some of the biggest names in contemporary art, will be contributed to organizations providing relief to the survivors of the catastrophe, the effects of which continue to be devastating.
Takashi Murakami comments: “Those of us who live, work and share connections with Japan have
been witness to a series of horrible events that will leave an indelible mark on the country for years
to come. For myself, I first responded with the New Day project, in which artists provided
encouragement to the victims by submitting works through the Internet. Now, we aim to take this
effort to a higher level.”
"The past months have already seen the rise of many such projects around the world,” TakashiMurakami continued. “But as a Japanese artist working inside the global contemporary art
community, I possessed the strong realization that we must contribute something of our own
initiative. The support and encouragement of Mr. François Pinault and Christie's has been vital in helping to reach that goal. I hope through this project to send a message to the people in the damage-struck areas that we are still with them and will continue to provide support."
illustration of the role that art can play in times of crisis. Further details of the sale and the selected artists will be announced in the early fall.