Multimedia artist Ayako Rokkaku on finger-painting and creating interactive art
Multimedia artist Ayako Rokkaku tells David Ho about her biggest work to date at the Landmark and why feeling is believing with her art
Step into the Landmark Atrium before April 17 and you’ll be greeted by a gigantic patchwork island, on top of which stands a series of cute figures. This spectacle is The Island – Onigashima, an interactive installation by Japanese multimedia artist Ayako Rokkaku.
Wander under the island and you’ll find a plush passageway with windows, dangling objects and walls covered in a variety of textures. Here, unlike with most artworks, visitors are encouraged to touch and feel all that intrigues them.
Japan’s cute kawaii culture comes to life at Rokkaku’s fingertips. Her signature technique is to finger-paint her work, literally adding a personal touch to the art.
Her abstract artworks often feature cute characters that evoke a childlike sense of wonder. They tend to be framed by rainbow fields of swirling colours. It’s an experience akin to being immersed in a particularly vibrant snapshot of a psychedelic anime.
After two decades of working with acrylics and oil on canvas, Rokkaku has expanded her oeuvre to include sculptures of ceramic, bronze, and glass. Even with those, she works with her fingers to stay true to her signature technique. The Island – Onigashima marks her biggest and fluffiest piece to date. Even Thai star Bright Vachirawit came to town to check out the launch of her installation.
Here, Rokkaku gives us a glimpse into her practice.