Akiko Ikeda Art Exhibition: Dayan the Cat
A weaver of enchanting fantasy worlds, artist Akiko Ikeda has delighted generations of readers and art lovers since the early 1980s. Born in Tokyo, she began her career as an illustrator before creating Wachifield, the whimsical cat-inhabited realm that became the setting for her bestselling picture books featuring Dayan the Cat. Imbued with warmth, humour and a touch of mystery, her creations have grown into a veritable universe spanning literature, art and design.
To celebrate the release of her new book I’m a Lucky Cat, the Roppongi Museum hosts this immersive experience that invites visitors to discover ‘seven kinds of good fortune’. Making your way through a maze-like gallery filled with original paintings and sculptures, you get to explore themes of luck, moonlight and magic, culminating in a symbolic ‘blessing’ from Dayan’s paw print.
Highlights include Sunset Cocktail, a newly created Tokyo-inspired work depicting Dayan and Jitan raising a toast against the glowing skyline, and Night of the Seven Moons, the exhibition’s centrepiece, where seven symbols of happiness, ranging from a golden moon to a white owl, glimmer within the artwork.
Special events, including autograph sessions and live art performances by Ikeda, will accompany the exhibition.