Ayako Rokkaku on ‘THE ISLAND – ONIGASHIMA’ and Creating Happiness From Within

During Hong Kong’s Art Week, the LANDMARK Atrium has been transformed by the arrival of Ayako Rokkaku’s THE ISLAND – 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’s Rokkaku’s first solo showcase in Hong Kong and her largest installation worldwide within a commercial environment.

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 – 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. “Japan is an island country, and Hong Kong also has a lot of islands,” the artist explains, 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, she effectively blurs the lines between her internal creative world and the audience’s physical experience.