"When I’m painting, I try to get in touch with the way I felt as a child—to get back to my starting point, if you like. Everyone goes through a stage of being totally into drawing and painting when they are small. Children can get completely absorbed in their pictures. I think maybe my works help to remind people of how they felt back then."
— Ayako RokkakuBorn in 1982 in Chiba, Japan, Ayako Rokkaku is celebrated for her groundbreaking technique of applying paint directly with her hands, an approach that imbues her work with a palpable energy and spontaneity. This technique leads to an almost pointillist effect, reminiscent of the Impressionists with a distinctly Japanese sensibility, creating works that are both dynamic and whimsical. With the canvas as her main medium, she has created fantastical paintings which resonates with the viewer’s childhood dreams deep within.
Ayako Rokkaku, Untitled, 2009 The present lot Untitled (Wooden House) is an installation work created in 2019, which showcases Rokkaku’s signature whimsical style in a captivating, three-dimensional form. This sculptural format invites the viewer to step into her dream-like world, enveloping them in the process whilst blurring the boundaries between an art object and an interactive children’s playground. This playhouse-like installation is entirely covered in her swirling, finger-painted patterns, transforming a simple wooden structure into a portal that transports the viewer into her fairytale world.
Ayako Rokkaku live-painting the present lot
Image: Courtesy of Gallery Delaive
Ayako Rokkaku live-painting the present lot
Image: Courtesy of Gallery DelaiveIn the present lot, Rokkaku’s tactile approach expands her distinctive visual language from canvas to an immersive environment, inviting viewers to almost step inside her imagination. The architectural elements: the peaked roof, railings and the interior space all serve as a playground for Rokkaku’s exuberant palette and gestural, interactive mark-making. There is an inherent carefree spirit and uninhibited creativity residing in Rokkaku’s works, as exemplified in the present lot. This installation represents a significant evolution in the artist’s oeuvre in its interactive, immersive qualities.
Ayako Rokkaku’s ability to capture the essence of childhood wonder truly stands out in the present lot through her innovative and expressive technique. Her works invite viewers into a world where imagination and colours form a fairytale. Through her unique approach, Rokkaku bridges the gap between art and imagination, leaving a lasting impression of joy and curiosity. Her works would continue to enchant the audience worldwide, standing as vibrant reminders of the beauty found in simplicity and playfulness.
Collector's Digest
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Born 1982 in Chiba, Japan, Ayako Rokkaku began her artistic career in 2002, during her early twenties. Rokkaku quickly established herself on the international art scene after exhibiting at the 9th edition of the Geisai art fair in 2006 and was awarded the prestigious Akio Goto Prize, founded by Kaikai Kiki Studio, which is led by art world giant, Takashi Murakami.
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In 2018, Phillips Hong Kong was the first to bring Rokkaku to the eyes of the market with a selling exhibition, Sam Francis, Walasse Ting & Ayako Rokkaku: Perpetual Colours, selling out before the first day of the opening. Since then, demand for the artist has exploded internationally. Rokkaku’s works are included in the permanent collections of the Powerlong Art Museum, China; Sehwa Museum of Art, South Korea; the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, Japan; and the Voorlinden Museum, Netherlands, amongst others.
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Rokkaku’s most recent exhibitions include the current running solo presentation, Ayako Rokkaku: Holding an Island, at CCA Andratx, Mallorca from July to October 2024, and an institutional show with Long Museum West Bund, Close to Your Treasure, which ran from May to August 2023. Rokkaku currently lives and works in multiple cities, travelling between Porto, Berlin, Tokyo, and Amsterdam. She is represented by Gallery Delaive, Amsterdam.
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Condition Report
Description
View our Conditions of Sale.
Provenance
Gallery Delaive, Amsterdam
Acquired from the above by the present ownerExhibited
Amstelveen, Museum Jan van der Togt, Fumble in colours, tiny discoveries, 8 June – 25 August 2019, p. 145 (illustrated)
Seoul, Hangaram Art Museum, Dreams in My Hand, 12 December 2023 – 24 March 2024Literature
Gallery Delaive, Ayako Rokkaku works 2006-2021, Amsterdam, 2023, pp.140-141 (illustrated)
20
Untitled (Wooden House)
signed 'Rokkaku Aya [in Japanese]' on the underside
acrylic on wood
180 x 202 x 191 cm. (70 7/8 x 79 1/2 x 75 3/16 in.)
Executed in 2019.
Estimate
HK$800,000 - 1,200,000
€92,500-139,000
$103,000-154,000
Kimberley Wong
Associate Specialist
20th Century & Contemporary Art, Hong Kong
+852 2318 2095
kimberleywong@phillips.com
New Now: Modern & Contemporary Art
Hong Kong Auction 4 October 2024