Takashi Murakami Takes the Mask Game to the Next Level

Takashi Murakami is once again pushing the boundaries of conventional design, this time with his eccentric take on the traditional face mask.

After releasing masks with his signature flower print in May, the Japanese designer has now presented a new design, which flips the script on the conventional face masks we have all come to know as a part of our "new normal." Murakami takes protective gear to protective new heights.

A post on Murakami's Instagram yesterday shows the non-conventional face mask modeled by Takeshi "Cherry" Ishida of Cherry Fukuoka. The pleated olive-green mask covers the entire face, save for a narrow slit for the eyes to peer through.

Although it is unclear if the mask is part of a larger art piece or collection, the photo's backdrop reveals that Murakami is in the research and development stages of his project.

Check out the mask in greater detail below.