‘Untitled’ by Ayako Rokkaku, 2022
Ayako Rokkaku is one of Japan’s foremost contemporary artists. Her canvases – vibrant, dreamlike and emotionally-charged – exude freedom.
24 x 31.5 Inches
Full bleed UV-cured pigment print with a silkscreen varnish layer on 410gsm Somerset Tub Sized Satin Radiant White paper.
Limited Edition of 3591
Individually dated, numbered and stamped with the artist’s signature.

ABOUT THE ART
As Rokkaku paints live in London, a print edition based on the work she creates will be available to order. When the painting is finished, the timed edition will continue until the 24 hour release window ends. Edition size will be determined by the total number of orders received in this time.

In the days that follow, Rokkaku will work with printmakers to translate her painting into a hybrid print combining UV-cured ink with glossy silkscreen varnish. Once perfected, the edition will be printed, stamped and shipped to collectors worldwide. This will be Rokkaku’s first print with stamped authentication. Previously, her signature stamp has only appeared on original works.


ABOUT THE ARTIST
Ayako Rokkaku fights against the mundanity of adulthood. Her paintings are innocent, imaginative and dreamlike. Intense, vibrant colours swirl together to show fields and flowers. Bug-eyed girls peer from under the paint, or drift through them on clouds. Rokkaku forgoes brushes, using her hands to apply acrylic paint straight onto canvas. She takes an intuitive approach, often working on unexpected surfaces. These range from torn cardboard to used Louis Vuitton suitcases. She has also turned her hand to ceramics. Rokkaku cites painter Cy Twombly as an influence – drawn to his fast, rhythmic brushstrokes.

Rokkaku aspires to the freedom of childhood. Because of this, she paints and draws her manga-inspired figures in a naive style. "When I’m painting I try to get in touch with the way I felt as a child," she says. This liberates her from rules. Imagination takes priority over technical skill. She also draws on Japan's kawaii culture which directly translates as ‘cute’ but now encompasses a broad cultural aesthetic – from Hello Kitty to streetwear. Likewise, Rokkaku indulges in all things cute as a form of escapism. Wild and exuberant, her work embodies the untamed brilliance of youth..

Good (see photos)