News l Takashi Murakami's "First Day of Summer"

To celebrate and welcome the event of Summer Solstice, or the longest day of the year, Google has featured Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami's creation, tagged "First Day of Summer."


The doodle is a representation of a day when Earth and the moon's axial tilt is closest to the Sun. Commonly referred to as "Midsummer", the Summer Solstice is observed on the 21st of June every year on the Northern Hemisphere with festivals, gatherings, rituals and other celebrations. However, in the Southern Hemisphere, the event is celebrated only in December.


Murakami is known for his sculptures and paintings that are highly influenced by Japanese Anime culture. The artist was named to the Time 100 in 2008, and worked with designer Marc Jacobs on reimagining the monogram of the French design house, Louis Vitton.