Ay-O: Nijitsukai

HONG KONG / H Queen’s

2024.06.20 - 08.10

With a career spanning over six decades, Ay-O has established himself as a pioneering force in the art world, known for his dynamic and multi-sensory approach to art. The artist coined the term "Nijitsukai" (虹使い), which means "rainbow-charming" in Japanese, inspired by the term “snake-charming”(蛇使い). This exhibition invites viewers to step into Ay-O's vibrant, energetic world and be captivated by his masterful command of color.

Takao Iijima, better known by his artist name Ay-O, was born in Ibaraki prefecture in 1931. After he graduated from the Tokyo University of Education, Ay-O made a splash in Japan's art scene as part of the Demokrato Artists Association in the 1950s. Demokrato was an innovative group led by the surrealist artist Ei-Q to promote independence in the creation of art, it was a place without judgment or hierarchy where Ay-O could create freely. In 1958, Ay-O moved to New York, where he met the important figures of the Fluxus movement, such as the leader George Maciunas, Yoko Ono, and Nam June Paik. He collaborated with artists from various creative fields including painters, musicians, composers, writers and dancers to break the barriers between different mediums of art.

Departing from conventional artistic practice, Ay-O discarded artificial lines in his creation and came up with the idea of using all the colors at once. He started making visual experimental works covering everything around him in rainbow colors, culminating in the creation of his renowned 'rainbow' pieces, which propelled him to international recognition and earned him worldwide fame as well as the nickname ‘Rainbow Artist’, following his exhibition at 33rd Venice Biennale in 1966.

In the 1960s, he began producing prints with two trusted printers Tokuzo Okabe and Kenryo Sukeda. According to the artist, “Back then, print was belittled as ‘Hanga’ (half-picture) and looked down upon as inferior to oil painting.” However, he believes that painters and printers hold equal standing as art creators. In 1970, he won the Tokyo prize of the 7th Tokyo International Print Biennale with ‘Rainbow Hokusai.’ Through his lively and energetic printmaking, Ay-O cemented his legacy as a pioneering artist who challenged the traditional hierarchies within the art world.

Having recently completed successful shows at prestigious institutions such as The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art and M+ Museum Hong Kong, Ay-O's work continues to captivate audiences worldwide. The rainbow prints, in particular, showcase a unique blend of whimsy and technical mastery, offering viewers a kaleidoscopic glimpse into his imaginative world.

Volcano

1974
Acrylic on canvas
241.0 × 173.0 cm

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Time Tunnel

1976
Screenprint on paper
56.5 × 76.0 cm

Edition 200

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A Stroke on the Way

1981-82
Acrylic on canvas
73.0 × 91.0 ×2.5 cm

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Documentation

1985
Acrylic on canvas
93.5 ×75.3 × 6.4 cm

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Olympic Skiing

1992
Acrylic on canvas
181.8 × 227.3 cm

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Rainbow Fields of Finnegans Wake #5

1994
Acrylic on canvas
53.5 × 65.5 cm

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24 Colors No.2 (Rainbow Mandara)

1995
Acrylic on canvas
130.7 × 162.1 × 3.3 cm

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Wrestling

1992
Acrylic on canvas
227.5 × 182.0 × 4.0 cm

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Those Who Go Spend Their Days and Nights Like This

1997
Acrylic on canvas
93.8 × 237.0 × 3.0 cm

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URASHIMA TO BLACK HOLE

2003
Acrylic on canvas
112.2 × 145.6 cm

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Mountain Mountain

2013
Acrylic on canvas
72.7 × 91.0 cm

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Ay-O: The Magic of Colors by the Rainbow Artist

Conversations with Ay-O

ABOUT

Ay-O: Nijitsukai
2024.06.20 - 08.10

HONG KONG / H Queen’s

8F / H Queen’s, 80 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2523 8001
Fax: +852 2523 8005
Opening Hours: 11:00 - 19:00
Closed: Sunday, Monday
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