Ayako Rokkaku Captivates Hong Kong: 'THE ISLAND – ONIGASHIMA' Transforms Art into a Tactile and Vibrant Experience

During Hong Kong's High Art Week, the LANDMARK Atrium was transformed by the arrival of Ayako Rokkaku's 'THE ISLAND – ONIGASHIMA', a large-scale artistic intervention. The Japanese artist replaced the mall's usual atmosphere with an organic topography of 'kawaii' figures, undulating forms, and soft fabrics. This exhibition marks a significant milestone, being Rokkaku's first solo showcase in Hong Kong and her largest installation worldwide in a commercial setting.

Located in the heart of Central, the open-space atrium has long served as a premier canvas for grand-scale artistic installations. The exhibition, which will be available until April 17, 2026, also extends to BELOWGROUND, which serves as the exhibition's gallery and retail counterpart. Here, the artist's signature energetic style is showcased through a curated selection of original paintings, providing a more intimate look at her canvas-based work.

The heart of the project lies in a geographic kinship between Hong Kong and Japan, recognizing their shared island identities. Rokkaku looked to 'Onigashima' (Demon Island) from Momotaro, a cornerstone of Japanese folklore, to anchor her vision. While the legendary island was originally depicted as a place of evil, Rokkaku's reimagining is one of warmth and comfort. The artist explains: "Japan is an island country, and Hong Kong also has a lot of islands," noting that this resonance sparked her desire to create a sanctuary where visitors could "explore these unknown creatures together".

By infusing the landscape with mystery and childlike wonder, Rokkaku blurs the lines between her internal creative world and the audience's physical experience. The exhibition serves as a sanctuary of freedom and "life energy" amidst Central's luxury retail pulse. Visitors are encouraged to touch, feel, and even relax with the installation, turning the act of viewing into a personal journey.

The physical realization of 'THE ISLAND – ONIGASHIMA' began six months ago through an experimental process of clay modeling. Rokkaku remarks, "I'm not a person with a plan," recounting how the clay naturally began to take the forms of 'oni' (monsters), 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's 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.

The artist highlights that the openness of LANDMARK provided her with a sense of freedom, allowing her to "create happiness from within" and, in turn, share that energy with the public. The exhibition includes a special lamp collaboration with AllRightsReserved, allowing fans to take home a piece of Rokkaku's glowing world.

The artist emphasizes the importance of liveliness and "life energy" in her work, seeking for people to feel movement and energy when looking at her art. Rokkaku explains: "I want people to just enjoy the pureness of being so close to art without overthinking it." She highlights that it is rare to be so close to art, which is why the idea that anyone can touch and feel the exhibition inspired her own process.

"I really want [the exhibit] to be an escape from reality — if it reminds you of a page from your childhood or a long-forgotten feeling, that would be amazing," Rokkaku states. The inspiration for her work is a blend of the natural and the artificial, combining nature with artificial culture. The artist mentions that artificial colors, such as neon pink, are fundamental in her work, as it is a mixture of both worlds.

In the words of 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".

The installation, which is located in the LANDMARK Atrium, will be available until April 17, 2026. The collaboration with LANDMARK's creative team helped Rokkaku bring her vision to life, offering advice on fabrics and color palettes. The artist emphasizes that she does not like to plan and relies entirely on her instincts, waiting to see what tool or material will give her the specific feeling when interacting with it.