Inochi

“What is the future of human beauty?” This is the naive and fundamental question that a small humanoid robot which looks like E.T. or a manga character is asking us. An icon of Takashi Murakami's ebullient world, it is reproduced in a wide array of mediums such as sculptures, videos, posters, goodies, etc.

Inochi, which means “life” or “spirit” in Japanese, has several characteristics of the otaku culture on which the artist draws to create his colorful characters. It also chimes with the fantasies of Japanese society, where robots play an important role and are seen as elements of the environment just like trees, animals, or even humans. Both playful and disturbing, this work by Murakami creates a link between man and machine.

The Inochi work held by the Pinault Collection was first shown in 2006 at the Where Are We Going? exhibition at Palazzo Grassi, in Venice.