The excitement for Takashi Murakami’s, GYATEI², at Gagosian in Beverly Hills was apparent even before walking into the opening. The annual pre-Oscar opening had a line of eager gallerygoers wrapped around the building—their enthusiasm escalating upon entrance.

Much to everyone’s delight, the show was a psychedelic carnival full of colorful installations and sculptures featuring the classic characters of Murakami’s creation, utilizing his usual motifs from Japanese traditional and popular culture. There were walls covered by row after row of delightful, rainbow, glossy flowers while the colossal work A Statue of Flower Parent and Child (2019) stood posed and smiling holding the hand of its adorable flower baby in the center of the gallery. The beaming flower and child were clearly ready for a photo opt, so we, and many others obliged. In one work, Murakami even cosplays as a character in Kanye West and Lil Pump‘s music video for I Love It. This piece is significantly relevant in its satirical approach of addressing how art is appreciated and consumed and how an artist maintains their audience’s interest with the ever changing influence of the digital world.

Current digital trends such as Instagram were incorporated as the artist notes that this influential platform too will be irrelevant one day. Typical to the artists’ humorous anything but subtle and approach, one work even had the word “Viral” spray painted across in neon. In attendance was the artist himself as well as many other high profile attendees such MOCA Director Klaus Biesenbach, Pharrell Williams, and predictably Mr. Chow who had the after party at one of his restaurants.

During the entirety of the show, phones were out and snaps aplenty were taken amidst the of mingling crowd, making it clear this was the week’s “art world” scene to be seen at. Murakami’s guests quite effortlessly brought to life his theme of “digital presence,” truly allowing the works to have immediate extended existence beyond the gallery walls. The festivities continued into the night and we all left with smiles as big as Murakami’s flowers. I you don’t believe me, all you would have had to do is checked Instagram as the show’s digital presence mirrored reality—a success for Murakami.