Takashi Murakami Lands in New York

(NEW YORK) Somewhere in Manhattan, George Clooney was turning on the charm for the premiere of his new football movie, Leatherheads, but last night, the whole of New York City's creative energy felt as if it had migrated across the East River to The Brooklyn Museum's Brooklyn Ball benefit and opening of the exhibition ©Murakami. It features the work of controversial Japanese pop artist (and designer of those fun, bright monogrammed Louis Vuitton bags) Takashi Murakami, who, clad in a Brooks Brothers suit and tie, Ben Sherman shirt, and Vuitton sneakers, brought along Chiho Aoshima, his sponsored artist, who, much to the amusement of the artist, was dressed as a Richard Prince nurse. Even a crew of protesters--there to rag on honoree Bruce Ratner, the man behind the Atlantic Yards project that will bring the Nets to Brooklyn--was interested in the fuss.

The big buzz prior to the exhibition had been the inclusion of a functional Louis Vuitton boutique selling Murakami handbags, wallets, and key chains. "I consider it performance art!" said Murakami booster and collaborator Marc Jacobs. "This entire night is about perversity and irony, and I like that." Once inside, though, the store seemed rather tame--in fact, exactly like an LV counter one might find in Saks. "I thought that the store was quiet and conventional," said Frank Gehry afterwards. "He should have made it something more over the top." More surprising--even to the artist himself, who didn't know it was being set up--was the amusing faux Chinatown the museum had set up outside on the ground level, replete with 10 vendors selling real multicolored Murakami bags to guests as they walked in. "I just bought a camera case!" Kanye West's manager, Don C, boasted of his new purchase. Bargaining was even encouraged, just like on Canal Street. But not many attendees seemed very game. "I don't wear purses and I'm not a good bargainer," said Stefano Tonchi. "I either pay or I don't pay." Linda Evangelista also took it in stride. "The bazaar was a good idea," she said. "But it's a little creepy how they accost you."

After checking out the goods, guests, including Eva Herzigova (who shot the Vuitton fall campaign earlier that day), Bernard Arnault, Anthony Goicolea, Julian Schnabel, Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn, Terrence Koh, Jeffrey Deitch, Nicole Miller, Amalia Dayan and Adam Lindemann grabbed cocktails and wandered through room after room--after room--all awash in Murakami's exceedingly bright wall coverings and multi-colored canvases, covered in anime-inspired cartoon eyes, skulls, and flowers with happy faces. Those who knew what to expect came dressed to blend in: Jacobs in a bright green suit from Comme des Garçons ("I didn't have any winter clothes," he shrugged); Tinsley Mortimer in a loud flow-y frock she'd bought off the rack at Intermix. Selita Ebank's attempt to go arty? Cotton candy patent-leather Christian Louboutins and glittery eyes, with a muted dress. "I wish I was more adventurous," she said. "But I don't want to be on the 'What was she thinking?' list."

Even more dominant than the colors, though, were the two giant sculptures of a female and male anime superhero, the female showing off positively enormous breasts. Ebanks said they inspired her inner feminist. "I think it's very empowering to women," she said. "Okay, their boobs are huge. But they're superheroes." But like most men that night, John McEnroe admitted that he'd "gravitated" toward the sculptures for perhaps more prurient reasons. Were our heroine's, um, attributes a factor? "Maybe," he said, then paused and hung his head. "Yeah." Also a fan: Kanye West. After guests shuffled downstairs to a seated dinner featuring Nobu-prepared dishes like miso filet of beef and wasabi mashed potatoes, he told the crowd about collaborating with Murakami for the designs of his Graduation album cover and the anime sequences in his "Stronger" video. "We were coming up with all these designs, and I'd draw big breasts on women," he recounted. "Murakami would say, 'You like big tits!'"

But downstairs, away from the wildness of the exhibition, the night proceeded as most galas do. Expected celebrity guests Liv Tyler and Maggie Gyllenhaal were no-shows, as was Jay-Z, but Harry Morton and Larry Gagosian did make the rounds with a fur-clad Eva Herzigova while Jacobs and Anna Wintour entered into deep conversation and Glenda Bailey sat back admiring the black, eyeball-covered globes hanging from the ceiling. Kristin Davis, proud owner of two Murakami pieces, admired the man from afar ("He's so adorable! Adorable!"), but nearly wouldn't let Louis Vuitton chief Yves Carcelle introduce her to him. "I get so nervous meeting someone I admire," she professed. But when the time came, she blushed--and gushed-appropriately. "I just bought two of your silk screens for my house! I have the flower one over my desk!" she exclaimed. "I feel so happy to have you in my home." Also a proud Murakami owner? Larry Gagosian, who snatched up a canvas covered in the new monogramouflage and hand-painted skulls for $65,000 during the live auction portion of the night. Upon winning the bid, he threw his hands in the air and pumped his fists joyously, then whispered, "I have no idea what I just bought."

As the auction ended and the desserts were finally cleared away at 10:30 p.m., the room grew frenzied with activity. Much like with the exhibit's opening last year at the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, the specially-made Murakami place mats were the item to pilfer, and if one didn't grab onto one's own, it was quickly snatched away, most likely for later sale on eBay. Tim Schifter, Thelma Golden, and Jennifer Creel were all spotted later at the event-ending Kanye West concert clutching their plates tightly to their chests. And when West's blistering set of his greatest hits--"Diamonds are Forever," "Gold Digger," and "Touch The Sky"--was over, Creel had earned another prize: a white knit cap.

"Kanye gave it to her!" Helen Schifter exclaimed. But Creel was more coy. "He did, but I can't tell you the story."