Ayako Rokkaku's work being consistently associated with the aesthetic and omnipresent "kawaii" (jpn. "adorable", "cute") concept in Japan is no coincidence. Just like her endearing figures, her art radiates innocence and playfulness. The artist delights in evoking a sense of nostalgia and transporting viewers back to their own cherished childhood memories through her creations. To her, "kawaii" represents a feeling of being at home, evoking warmth, and providing a healing touch.
The pictorial backgrounds, often described as abstract, bear the influence of the time when the artist conducted her painting sessions in the park, akin to the "en plein air" (fr. "in the open air") practice traditionally embraced by painters. Applied with her fingertips, utilizing a vibrant palette, the dots of colour are reminiscent of impressionist, almost pointillist landscapes, devoid of a defined horizon. Hints of flowers and abstracted trees invite the sunlight to playfully shine through and dance across the scenery. In her colour selection, however, Rokkaku transcends natural tones and nuances. Moreover, she expertly blends lush green and rippling blue with the fluorescent pink and yellow hues of neon-flooded city streets.
Within the exhibition's works, the iconic heroines seamlessly meld with the homogenously heterogenous backgrounds. They immerse themselves, absorbing and reflecting the vibrant colors, creating a harmonious fusion, yet, simultaneously, float out again – all in their signature cute, weird, and free manner.
Source: König Galerie press release
Ayako Rokkaku's work being consistently associated with the aesthetic and omnipresent "kawaii" (jpn. "adorable", "cute") concept in Japan is no coincidence. Just like her endearing figures, her art radiates innocence and playfulness. The artist delights in evoking a sense of nostalgia and transporting viewers back to their own cherished childhood memories through her creations. To her, "kawaii" represents a feeling of being at home, evoking warmth, and providing a healing touch.
The pictorial backgrounds, often described as abstract, bear the influence of the time when the artist conducted her painting sessions in the park, akin to the "en plein air" (fr. "in the open air") practice traditionally embraced by painters. Applied with her fingertips, utilizing a vibrant palette, the dots of colour are reminiscent of impressionist, almost pointillist landscapes, devoid of a defined horizon. Hints of flowers and abstracted trees invite the sunlight to playfully shine through and dance across the scenery. In her colour selection, however, Rokkaku transcends natural tones and nuances. Moreover, she expertly blends lush green and rippling blue with the fluorescent pink and yellow hues of neon-flooded city streets.
Within the exhibition's works, the iconic heroines seamlessly meld with the homogenously heterogenous backgrounds. They immerse themselves, absorbing and reflecting the vibrant colors, creating a harmonious fusion, yet, simultaneously, float out again – all in their signature cute, weird, and free manner.
Source: König Galerie press release
