About this work: Against a background of colourful, smiling flowers, two figures raise their arms in a spirited manner as if inviting us to step through the doorway in the centre of the composition. Inside, a strange chequered landscape of gold and silver leaves is taking shape. The two characters, from the Japanese manga series Doraemon, are none other than Doraemon himself, the famous robot cat from the 1969 saga, and his friend Nobita Nobi. For this series, the artist Takashi Murakami has combined his signature flowers with the equally recognisable Doraemon and Nobita Nobi, as if to play on the border between pop culture and contemporary art. The famous Japanese artist thus develops a recognisable aesthetic rooted in the everyday life and childhood of the Japanese, giving his flowers the status of pop icons.

About the artist: Japanese artist born in 1962. Lives and works between New York, Munich and Tokyo. Graduated from the University of Fine Arts and Music and Tokyo. Disciple of Pop Art, he combines Japanese art with pop culture from the Land of the Rising Sun. Considered one of the most innovative artists of his time, Takashi Murakami has achieved a high level of fame that extends far beyond the art world. Constantly blurring the boundaries between academic and commercial art, he promotes art as a true brand. He is notably known for his collaborations with the world of luxury and fashion, such as Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton. His works have been exhibited all over the world, including the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and the Château de Versailles. Takashi Murakami is represented by Galerie Perrotin.

Expert Opinion: Ranked sixth in Christie's 2006 list of the world's most expensive artists, Takashi Murakami is an artist whose empire continues to grow. From the same series as Doraemon: Anywhere Door in the Field of Flowers and also featured on the Artransfer catalogue, these two works work well as a pair.