Takashi Murakami, "That'd be great, I wish I could do that"

"The Doraemon Exhibition TOKYO 2017," an exhibition of works by 28 artists and groups who responded to the request to "create your own Doraemon," will open at the Roppongi Hills Mori Arts Center Gallery from November 1st. This exhibition, which brings together Doraemon and contemporary art, will highlight the current state of contemporary art. Here are some highlights of the exhibition.

"Doraemon," a national character that has been loved by people of all ages and genders since its creation in 1970, has appeared in a variety of forms, including comics, animation, films, and character goods. This exhibition can be considered a sequel to "THE Doraemon Exhibition" held in 2002, and under the supervision of Yuji Yamashita (art historian and professor at Meiji Gakuin University), it is also significant in that artists who exhibited their works back then, such as Takashi Murakami, Yoshitomo Nara, and Mika Ninagawa, are once again showcasing new works. Through the filter of Doraemon, we may be able to see the growth and changes in style of the veteran artists, and the development of expressive techniques and technology from the younger artists. Starting with Takashi Murakami's masterpiece "I wish I could do that," and continuing with Miran Fukuda's "Flock of Immortals on the Waves," which superimposes Doraemon onto the figures of ancient Chinese immortals, Mika Ninagawa's "Dora-chan's One Day Date Volume 2017," which captures a day's date with Doraemon in an album, Tomoko Konoike's "Shizuka-chan's Cave," which uses cowhide as a canvas, and Makoto Aida's "Mute Seiki - Air," new "images of Doraemon" colored by each artist's own unique style are appearing one after another.

Some works focus on the people and gadgets surrounding Doraemon, while others, such as Kayo Ume's "Photos of Doraemon in My House," show Doraemon's presence in everyday life, and Kotobuki Shiriagari's short animation "Everything is Solved! The exhibition is well worth seeing, with works such as "Anti-Deterioration Spray" and works by Ai Shinozaki and Tomomi Kondo inspired by the world of the film. And don't forget that most of the exhibits are photographable.

With a wide variety of production techniques, including installations, lacquerware, works projecting 3DCG animation onto resin plaster, and works created with 3D printers, you're sure to be thoroughly satisfied seeing cutting-edge contemporary art. There's also an audio guide (520 yen) by announcer Shinichi Hatori, a well-stocked merchandise store, and a cafe called "THE SUN" where you can enjoy limited-time menus, making it a great place for families.