Superflat refers to an art movement created by Murakami that attempted to introduce the international art scene to Japanese artists, animators, cartoonists, and more. The idea was that "such categories of creativity are not as rigid in the Japanese system, and might all be thought of as 'art,'" according to Kaikai Kiki, Murakami's art production and artist management corporation. The style debuted in 2001 with a three-part Superflat exhibition that toured museums in Europe and America.
The doodles Murakami created for Google depict his signature cartoon drawings, one with a summer scene and another set in winter.
"Amazing! I & kaikaikiki team are so happy this Happening! Thanks a Lot team Google!" Murakami tweeted today.
Murakami got his start in 1996 when he founded the Hiropon Factory in Japan. Since then, he has curated a number of popular art exhibitions in museums throughout the world, but is also known for his contributions to popular culture, blurring the line between what is considered high art and pop art and drawing comparisons to Andy Warhol. He has designed a number of handbags for Louis Vuitton, for example, and designed the cover for Kanye West's most recent album.
Though he is internationally known, Murakami still has strong ties to Japan. Twice a year, he hods the GEISAI festival, which is intended to showcase emerging Japanese artists. The driving force behind his work is "to become a living example of the potential of art," according to his company.
During the summer solstice, meanwhile, the angle between the Earth's axis and the Earth-Sun line is as large as it can get, at 23.5 degrees, and the North Pole is inclined towards the Sun, according to NASA. National Geographic reports that at high noon on the first day of summer, the sun is at its highest point in the sky. It is only shining directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer, however.
If June 21 is the day with the most sunshine, why does it signify the beginning of the summer and not its peak? According to NASA, the oceans are to blame. By June 21, the oceans are still cold from the winter (just as they are still warm from the summer on December 21, the start of winter), so that "delays that peak heat by about a month and a half," NASA said. Oddly, however, we are closest to the sun in the wintertime, between January 3-5.
For more on Google's doodles, see the slideshow below. One of the company's last popular doodle was a playable image in honor of musician Les Paul, which eventually got its own standalone site. The search giant also celebrated the year's first total lunar eclipse with a doodle that included a live feed of the event.
Source : http://www.pcmag.com
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