Much more than an adorable face, Takashi Murakami’s Mr. Pointy is a dynamic character that represents the blending of commercialism and tradition. 

Although he is not as famous as Mr. DOB, Mr. Pointy, known as Tongari-kun in Japan, is a prominent member of the Murakami team of characters. Originally devised by Murakami in 2003, Mr. Pointy has been reproduced in numerous paintings, prints, and sculptures for the public’s enjoyment. Mr. Pointy draws inspiration from religious iconography of Mayan culture, Tibetan Buddhism, and the Japanese Thousand-Armed Buddha, or Kannon. His traditional characteristics are flawlessly combined with contemporary manga and anime elements that makes Mr. Pointy the epitome of the culture of cuteness in Japan, known as kawaii. With this blend of past and present values, Mr. Pointy becomes a symbol of the re-appropriation and repurposing of religious images in mass-produced goods and modern art. Murakami uses the traditional yet contemporary aesthetic of Mr. Pointy as a catalyst for debate and reflection on the art of commercialism and cultural globalization.

The Art Institute of Chicago’s Mr. Pointy shows the character floating above a psychedelic sphere and a lotus flower that is sure to catch everyone’s eye. Mr. Pointy is a prime example of “superflat”, a stylistic term coined by Murakami in 2000. Murakami’s “superflat” artwork draws direct inspiration from the Edo period artist Itō Jakuchū whose paintings of chickens and dogs create a complex composition for the viewers’ eye to explore where three-dimensional subjects and space are presented on a flat plane. Murakami’s use of his “superflat” theory in Mr. Pointy is most clearly seen when comparing the perspective of the character and the lotus flower it hovers over. The lotus flower is angled slightly towards the viewer and occupies the foreground of the composition with lily pads drifting off behind it. These stylistic choices give the lotus flower a 3D appearance that captivates the viewer’s eye. But the character of Mr. Pointy is displayed as a much more two-dimensional and flat image that contrasts with the depth created by the lotus flower. This results in a trippy visual experience of perspective and dimensionality that is an adventure for the human eye to gaze upon and a challenge for the brain to decipher. Cute, commercial, and a captivating conversation starter? Mr. Pointy is quite the triple threat.