{"id":352774,"date":"2026-03-28T21:41:24","date_gmt":"2026-03-28T21:41:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/352774\/"},"modified":"2026-03-28T21:41:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T21:41:24","slug":"ayako-rokkaku-the-island-onigashima-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/352774\/","title":{"rendered":"Ayako Rokkaku \u2018THE ISLAND \u2013 ONIGASHIMA\u2019 Interview"},"content":{"rendered":"

During Hong Kong<\/a>\u2019s Art Week, the LANDMARK<\/a> Atrium has been transformed by the arrival of Ayako Rokkaku<\/a>\u2019s THE ISLAND \u2013 ONIGASHIMA. The Japanese artist has staged a sprawling intervention within the iconic mall, replacing its usual high-gloss atmosphere with an organic topography of kawaii figures, undulating forms and soft fabrics. Situated in the heart of Central, the open-space atrium has long served as a premier canvas for grand-scale artistic installations, yet this unveiling marks a significant milestone: it\u2019s Rokkaku\u2019s first solo showcase in Hong Kong and her largest installation worldwide within a commercial environment.<\/p>\n

The heartbeat of the project lies in a geographic kinship between Hong Kong and Japan. Recognizing their shared island identities, Rokkaku looked toward Onigashima (Demon Island) from Momotaro \u2013 a cornerstone of Japanese folklore \u2013 to anchor her vision. While the legendary island was originally depicted as a place of evil, Rokkaku\u2019s reimagining is one of warmth and comfort. \u201cJapan is an island country, and Hong Kong also has a lot of islands,\u201d the artist explains, noting that this resonance sparked her desire to create a sanctuary where visitors could \u201cexplore these unknown creatures together.\u201d By infusing the landscape with mystery and childlike wonder, she effectively blurs the lines between her internal creative world and the audience\u2019s physical experience.<\/p>\n

The physical realization of THE ISLAND \u2013 ONIGASHIMA began six months ago through an experimental process of clay modeling. \u201cI\u2019m not a person with a plan,\u201d Rokkaku remarks, recounting how the clay naturally began to take on the forms of oni (monsters), eventually bridging the folklore of her heritage with the topography of Hong Kong. This spirit of spontaneity was further highlighted during a live painting performance at the installation\u2019s opening. Using her bare hands to layer vibrant pigments directly onto the surface, Rokkaku offered a rare, intimate glimpse into the visceral connection between the artist and her medium.\n<\/p>\n

Recognizing the shared island geography of Hong Kong and Japan, Rokkaku looked toward the mythical Onigashima (Monster Island) from Momotaro, a renowned tale in Japanese folklore, to anchor her vision. While the original island from the fable was much more sinister, Rokkaku\u2019s reimagining is much more cozy and cute. \u201cJapan is an island country and Hong Kong also has a lot of islands,\u201d the artist explains, noting that this geographic resonance sparked the desire to create a space where everyone could \u201cexplore these unknown creatures together.\u201d By infusing the island with a blend of mystery and childlike wonder, she blurs the lines between the artist\u2019s internal world and the audience\u2019s experience.\n<\/p>\n

Ultimately, the exhibition serves as a sanctuary of freedom and \u201clife energy\u201d amidst the luxury retail pulse of Central. Visitors are encouraged to touch, feel and even relax with the installation, turning the act of viewing into a personal journey. Rokkaku notes that the openness of LANDMARK provided a sense of freedom, allowing her to \u201ccreate happiness from within\u201d and thus, share that energy with the public.\n<\/p>\n

\u201c[LANDMARK Atrium is a] place where I feel I have the space to create happiness within myself, and in turn, I want to fill this entire area with that happiness.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

THE ISLAND \u2013 ONIGASHIMA is your largest installation to date. What sparked the connection between Japanese folklore and Hong Kong\u2019s geography?\n<\/p>\n

Ayako Rokkaku: ONIGASHIMA comes from a very famous Japanese folktale called Momotaro. When I was looking for a connection between Hong Kong and Japan, I realized both are defined by being islands with surrounding islands. So, I chose THE ISLAND as my central theme and started to imagine what sort of creatures would reside on this fictional island of mine and invite others to explore them through my work.\n<\/p>\n

Your version of the monster island from Momotaro\u2019s feels so much more vibrant and kawaii. Was that a deliberate choice?\n<\/p>\n

Yes, definitely. In all my work, I emphasize liveliness and \u201clife energy.\u201d I want people to actually feel movement and energy when they look at my art. Even though LANDMARK is a commercial complex, I was surprised by how open and spacious it feels. It gives me a sense of freedom. It\u2019s a place where I feel I have the space to create happiness within myself, and in turn, I want to fill this entire area with that happiness.\n<\/p>\n

You mentioned that you aren\u2019t fond of planning. How did that spontaneity translate into a project of this scale?\n<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not really the kind who follows a strict plan. It really only kicked off six months ago when I started playing with the clay. The shapes started looking like oni to me at one point and then the connection between the islands of Hong Kong and Japan just clicked. While I made the original clay model, the realization was a team effort with LANDMARK\u2019s creative team, who helped me bring the vision to life by offering advice on fabrics and color palettes. I really can\u2019t take all the credit for this, as it really was more of a collaboration.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI really want [the exhibit] to be an escape from reality \u2014 if it reminds you of a page from your childhood or a long-forgotten feeling, that would be amazing.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Most art exhibitions follow a \u201clook but don\u2019t touch\u201d rule. Why was it important for this island to be tactile and interactive?\n<\/p>\n

I want people to just enjoy the pureness of being so close to art without overthinking it. It\u2019s rare for one to be this close to art, so the idea of anyone being able to touch and feel the exhibit inspired my own process. I really want it to be an escape from reality \u2014 if it reminds you of a page from your childhood or a long-forgotten feeling, that would be amazing.\n<\/p>\n

Inspiration for your work seems to be a blend of the natural and the artificial. How do these two worlds coexist in your mind?\n<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a blend of nature and man-made culture. I love walking through forests, watching how light filters through leaves or how waves move \u2014 those organic movements inspire me deeply. Growing up in Japan, I was naturally always surrounded by kawaii characters and pop culture \u2013 these are all things that inspire my art. Especially artificial colors like neon pink, which you don\u2019t see in nature, are core to me, as my work really is a mixture of those two worlds.\n<\/p>\n

As you look toward the future, are there any new mediums you are hoping to experiment with?\n<\/p>\n

As I don\u2019t like to plan, I rely entirely on my instincts. I\u2019ll just have to wait and see what the next tool or material is that gives me that specific feeling when I interact with it.\n<\/p>\n

Ayako Rokkaku\u2019s THE ISLAND \u2013 ONIGASHIMA is currently on view at LANDMARK ATRIUM until April 17, 2026. This immersive experience extends downstairs to BELOWGROUND<\/a>, which serves as the exhibition\u2019s gallery and retail counterpart. Here, the artist\u2019s signature energetic style is showcased through a curated selection of original paintings, providing a more intimate look at her canvas-based work. The space also hosts an exclusive pop-up featuring limited-edition merchandise, most notably a special lamp collaboration with AllRightsReserved<\/a>, allowing fans to take a piece of Rokkaku\u2019s glowing world home with them.\n<\/p>\n

LANDMARK
15 Queen\u2019s Road Central,
Central, Hong Kong<\/p>\n