Travis Jesus Murakami Meaning: During this year’s Super Bowl, athlete Damar Hamlin and various groups of medical professionals were honored with a tribute award. However, online users were more intrigued by the letterman jacket worn by Hamlin. It was reportedly designed by renowned artist Takashi Murakami. Due to the controversial symbolism depicted on the jacket, netizens expressed their disappointment through online platforms.
Damar Hamlin experienced a cardiac arrest and collapsed during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals last month. His heart ceased beating until it was revived by the medical staff. As part of this year’s NFL event, the medical personnel from the Cincinnati Bengals, the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, and Hamlin himself were recognized for their efforts.
Hamlin wore a jacket adorned with a crucifix-styled symbol in green and blue on the back. Above the distressed and eerie-faced cross figure, the word “eternal” was visible. The jacket also featured phrases such as “saint youth” and “without end and without beginning there is no day and no night.”
The jacket, titled “Travis Jesus,” was created by artist Takashi Murakami. The online community was incensed by the garment, deeming it “satanic.” A Twitter user, Xx17965797N, gained significant attention after revealing that the Takashi Murakami jacket was named “Travis Jesus.” According to the user, the piece supposedly referred to Travis Scott’s “satanic ritual” at Astroworld. Here multiple individuals lost their lives in a stampede.
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Furthermore, the platform user disclosed that Scott had used the jacket as inspiration to create a “rhinestone encrusted pendant,” priced at $3,150. It is important to note that Damar Hamlin’s jacket, made by artist Takashi Murakami, was created prior to the tragic incident at Astroworld.
The athlete faced substantial backlash for wearing the jacket, garnering negative feedback online. Notably, former NFL star Adrian Peterson criticized Hamlin’s choice of attire. He expressed his disapproval online: “You should be thankful to God, son! This is blasphemy!! We all have our shortcomings, but come on, man! I find this disrespectful!! #grateful #goddid.”
Who is Takashi Murakami, the designer of the Travis Jesus jacket?
Takashi Murakami is a celebrated Japanese artist and entrepreneur renowned for incorporating traditional Japanese art aesthetics into pop culture contexts. He obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and later acquired a Ph.D. in 1993.
Often compared to Andy Warhol, Murakami engages in various forms of commercial art, including fashion, animation, merchandise, paintings, and sculptures. In addition to his artistic endeavors, the 61-year-old artist serves as the founder and president of Kaikai Kiki Co. Ltd., a management company overseeing emerging artists and performers. He is also the creator of Geisai, a biennial art fair.
Murakami gained international recognition in 1995 with his TransCulture exhibition at the 46th Venice Biennale, marking his European debut. His 2002 Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art exhibition received critical acclaim.
In 2013, the artist released his first feature film, “Mememe no kurage,” in Japan. He has collaborated with high-profile celebrities such as Billie Eilish, Kanye West, Travis Scott, J Balvin, and Virgil Abloh, among others.