--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Galleries in the West have probably been…" description: "\"Galleries in the West have probably been looking for exoticism. That's the reason my paintings initially sold well, I think. And then once they started..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/takashi-murakami-14892_exoticism_galleries-in-the-west-have-probably-been_2053016.png" --- # Galleries in the West have probably been looking for… ![“Galleries in the West have probably been looking for exoticism. That's the reason my paintings initially sold well, I think. And then once they started selling, people said my works were very detailed. They may have represented something Japanese to them.” quote by Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/takashi-murakami-14892_exoticism_galleries-in-the-west-have-probably-been_2053016.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/takashi-murakami-14892_exoticism_galleries-in-the-west-have-probably-been_2053016.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/takashi-murakami-14892_exoticism_galleries-in-the-west-have-probably-been_2053016.png) > “Galleries in the West have probably been looking for exoticism. That's the reason my paintings initially sold well, I think. And then once they started selling, people said my works were very detailed. They may have represented something Japanese to them.” [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Western galleries sought exotic appeal; initial sales rose, then critics labeled works as detailed and Japanese. **In simple terms:** Artists may be marketed as exotic, then later judged for style. Key Takeaway Understand and shape your artistic narrative. Themes art market cultural perception authenticity Mood reflective analytical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - gallery curation - artist statements Key Concepts branding cross‑cultural exchange Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance cultural influence with personal identity? - What strategies protect artistic integrity? A Different Perspective Exoticism can pigeonhole creators, limiting growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Exoticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exoticism/) [Exoticism Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exoticism-reason-3879016/) [Gallery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gallery/) [Looking Exoticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-exoticism-3879014/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Paintings Initially](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paintings-initially-3879015/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Represented Japanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/represented-japanese-3879017/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Selling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selling/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/west/) ## Related quotes > [“Exoticism was hard to find in Pullman, Washington. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/exoticism-was-hard-to-find-in-pullman-washington/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [Exoticism can give you an edge: it makes people assume you're cleverer than you are and gives you the upper hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/exoticism-can-give-you-an-edge-it-makes-people-assume-you-re-cleverer/) [Kristin Scott Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/) > [“The exotic and the erotic ideals go hand in hand, and this fact also contributes another proof of a more or less obvious truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-praz/the-exotic-and-the-erotic-ideals-go-hand-in-hand-and-this-fact-also/) [Mario Praz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-praz/) > [“It must be admitted that the West has reached a level of scientific mastery and outstanding specialisation. In its points of reference, this evolution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/it-must-be-admitted-that-the-west-has-reached-a-level-of-scientific/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [Calling something exotic emphasizes its distance from the reader. We don't refer to things as exotic if we think of them as ordinary. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/calling-something-exotic-emphasizes-its-distance-from-the-reader-we/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“Normalization takes place not because there is Western-ideology that normalizes third-world texts in any special way (other than the usual play with exoticism) but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aijaz-ahmad/normalization-takes-place-not-because-there-is-western-ideology-that/) [Aijaz Ahmad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aijaz-ahmad/) > [ Exotic novelty. My statement to \[people\] is always, well, set this picture in your home town, is it still an interesting picture? Or is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-abell/exotic-novelty-my-statement-to-people-is-always-well-set-this-picture/) [Sam Abell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-abell/) > [Fashion is, perhaps by necessity, in a world of its own - one that only rarely overlaps with anything resembling real life. This fantasy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-aletti/fashion-is-perhaps-by-necessity-in-a-world-of-its-own-one-that-only/) [Vince Aletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-aletti/) > [“I liked the exoticism his travels gave him, the unknownness. He had blown in with the soft breezes of a wider world, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-moyes/i-liked-the-exoticism-his-travels-gave-him-the-unknownness-he-had/) [jojo moyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-moyes/) > [“To most Westerners, the Philippines suffers from a lack of exoticism. Simply put, Philippine culture is just too accessible. To a young Western backpacker,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-martin/to-most-westerners-the-philippines-suffers-from-a-lack-of-exoticism/) [Steven Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-martin/) > [“After two years' absence she finally returned to chilly Europe, a trifle weary, a trifle sad, disgusted by our banal entertainments, our shrunken landscapes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octave-mirbeau/after-two-years-absence-she-finally-returned-to-chilly-europe-a/) [Octave Mirbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octave-mirbeau/) > [There are so many great galleries and museums in London, but they can be very crowded during the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaha-hadid/there-are-so-many-great-galleries-and-museums-in-london-but-they-can/) [Zaha Hadid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaha-hadid/) > [While I was still going to embrace social media, I knew I had to do things that nobody else was doing. I decided I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-edward/while-i-was-still-going-to-embrace-social-media-i-knew-i-had-to-do/) [Mark Edward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-edward/) > [My works are dear to me, each in its own way, I shall have to answer for them on the Day off Judgement. God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-chagall/my-works-are-dear-to-me-each-in-its-own-way-i-shall-have-to-answer/) [Marc Chagall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-chagall/) > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) ## More by Takashi Murakami > [The concept of minimalism is to relax. Like a Zen monk in training, it is something that brings equilibrium to the heart. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/the-concept-of-minimalism-is-to-relax-like-a-zen-monk-in-training-it/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [I'm always very interested in breeding. Raising cacti is breeding. My lotus plant collection is breeding. The insects are breeding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/i-m-always-very-interested-in-breeding-raising-cacti-is-breeding-my/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [Manga uses Japanese traditional structures in how to teach the student and to transmit a very direct message. You learn from the teacher by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/manga-uses-japanese-traditional-structures-in-how-to-teach-the/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [I don't think it's an unnatural thing at all for my collaborations or projects to be seen as art but entertainment at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/i-don-t-think-it-s-an-unnatural-thing-at-all-for-my-collaborations-or/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [Every day, I have new ideas. It makes my brain tired, so I spend time taking care of company quality, finding new artists, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/every-day-i-have-new-ideas-it-makes-my-brain-tired-so-i-spend-time/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [Like many other kids, I liked watching anime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/like-many-other-kids-i-liked-watching-anime/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [I've been immersed in manga since I was a kid. I grew up with this culture. So I started to think about how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/i-ve-been-immersed-in-manga-since-i-was-a-kid-i-grew-up-with-this/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [I don't always enjoy curating, but I do believe it's part of my job. It's a good exercise for my brain, like warming up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/i-don-t-always-enjoy-curating-but-i-do-believe-it-s-part-of-my-job-it/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [Japanese people accept that art and commerce will be blended; and, in fact, they are surprised by the rigid and pretentious Western hierarchy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/japanese-people-accept-that-art-and-commerce-will-be-blended-and-in/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [I tried to teach myself to draw anime, but I was so bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/i-tried-to-teach-myself-to-draw-anime-but-i-was-so-bad/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [It's true that I pick up many ideas from different Japanese things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/it-s-true-that-i-pick-up-many-ideas-from-different-japanese-things/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [I stopped worrying about competition in contemporary art. It feels a little bit more pure. That's where I am, one step back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/i-stopped-worrying-about-competition-in-contemporary-art-it-feels-a/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [I would like to live to 120, because conceptually, people can survive to 120. Every 20 years, it changes. So maybe, in the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/i-would-like-to-live-to-120-because-conceptually-people-can-survive/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [I've been immersed in manga since I was a kid. I grew up with this culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/i-ve-been-immersed-in-manga-since-i-was-a-kid-i-grew-up-with-this-2/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [As a young artist in New York, I thought about postwar Japan - the consumer culture and the loose, deboned feeling prevalent in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/as-a-young-artist-in-new-york-i-thought-about-postwar-japan-the/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) [Explore all 45 Takashi Murakami quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) ## More Exoticism quotes > [“After two years' absence she finally returned to chilly Europe, a trifle weary, a trifle sad, disgusted by our banal entertainments, our shrunken landscapes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octave-mirbeau/after-two-years-absence-she-finally-returned-to-chilly-europe-a/) [Octave Mirbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octave-mirbeau/) > [“To most Westerners, the Philippines suffers from a lack of exoticism. Simply put, Philippine culture is just too accessible. To a young Western backpacker,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-martin/to-most-westerners-the-philippines-suffers-from-a-lack-of-exoticism/) [Steven Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-martin/) > [“I liked the exoticism his travels gave him, the unknownness. He had blown in with the soft breezes of a wider world, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-moyes/i-liked-the-exoticism-his-travels-gave-him-the-unknownness-he-had/) [jojo moyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-moyes/) > [Fashion is, perhaps by necessity, in a world of its own - one that only rarely overlaps with anything resembling real life. This fantasy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-aletti/fashion-is-perhaps-by-necessity-in-a-world-of-its-own-one-that-only/) [Vince Aletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-aletti/) > [ Exotic novelty. My statement to \[people\] is always, well, set this picture in your home town, is it still an interesting picture? Or is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-abell/exotic-novelty-my-statement-to-people-is-always-well-set-this-picture/) [Sam Abell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-abell/) > [“Normalization takes place not because there is Western-ideology that normalizes third-world texts in any special way (other than the usual play with exoticism) but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aijaz-ahmad/normalization-takes-place-not-because-there-is-western-ideology-that/) [Aijaz Ahmad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aijaz-ahmad/) > [Calling something exotic emphasizes its distance from the reader. We don't refer to things as exotic if we think of them as ordinary. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/calling-something-exotic-emphasizes-its-distance-from-the-reader-we/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“It must be admitted that the West has reached a level of scientific mastery and outstanding specialisation. In its points of reference, this evolution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/it-must-be-admitted-that-the-west-has-reached-a-level-of-scientific/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [“The exotic and the erotic ideals go hand in hand, and this fact also contributes another proof of a more or less obvious truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-praz/the-exotic-and-the-erotic-ideals-go-hand-in-hand-and-this-fact-also/) [Mario Praz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-praz/) > [Exoticism can give you an edge: it makes people assume you're cleverer than you are and gives you the upper hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/exoticism-can-give-you-an-edge-it-makes-people-assume-you-re-cleverer/) [Kristin Scott Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/) > [“Exoticism was hard to find in Pullman, Washington. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/exoticism-was-hard-to-find-in-pullman-washington/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) [Browse all 12 Exoticism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exoticism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Galleries in the West have probably been looking for exoticism. That's the reason my paintings initially sold well, I think. And then once they started selling, people said my works were very detailed. They may have represented something Japanese to them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Takashi Murakami" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/galleries-in-the-west-have-probably-been-looking-for-exoticism-that-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Exoticism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/galleries-in-the-west-have-probably-been-looking-for-exoticism-that-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/takashi-murakami-14892_exoticism_galleries-in-the-west-have-probably-been_2053016.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/takashi-murakami-14892_exoticism_galleries-in-the-west-have-probably-been_2053016.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/takashi-murakami-14892_exoticism_galleries-in-the-west-have-probably-been_2053016.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Galleries in the West have probably been looking for exoticism. That's the reason my paintings initially…” — Takashi Murakami", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Takashi Murakami", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Galleries in the West have probably...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/galleries-in-the-west-have-probably-been-looking-for-exoticism-that-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/galleries-in-the-west-have-probably-been-looking-for-exoticism-that-s/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```