Step into a world where colors burst with vivid hues, and mesmerizing patterns pulse freely with life — welcome to the vibrant universe of Japanese artist Yayoi Deki.
Deki's first Hong Kong exhibition, "Minority Flags," is currently showing at Perrotin, K11 Atelier. It’s a great chance to get a first taste of the artist's intricate and colorful paintings.
Deki uses a unique finger stamping technique, a process whereby she uses her fingertips to apply paint, pressing them directly onto the painting. She explains that she finds this method both effective and spontaneous.
“I use the finger stamping method because it allows me to quickly capture the compositions that come to mind,” she said. Afterward, she uses a fine brush to delicately paint a face on each fingerprint.
Mesmerizing repetitions and lines seem to leap from the large canvas. Each fingerprint mark forms a “face” within a larger, vibrant world of endless repetition, weaving together narratives of individuals that make up the collective.
Examine a few of her paintings close-up and you will find miniature panda faces and other creatures concealed within the expansive fields of fingerprint faces. These are all, according to Deki, inhabitants of a fantastically imagined Nanakamura village.
Deki has no specific expectations for how viewers should perceive her work, "I hope they will feel free to interpret it in their own way."
The idea for Minority Flags came to her while she was brainstorming concepts for an exhibition centered around flags.
“After discussions with the gallery, we decided to create a collection of works based on the motif of minority flags for the Hong Kong exhibition," Deki said.
These minority flags encompass flags of various LGBTQ+ communities.
Deki continued to explain: “The starting point for the 'Minority Flag' series was primarily color, and it wasn't my intention to address gender issues as a theme. However, I would be happy if the artwork prompts viewers to think about diversity and identity."
In Minority Flags, Deki adopts the geometric designs and different colors of each of the LGBTQ+ community pride flags and transforms them into large-scale acrylic expanses of color, composed of hundreds, if not thousands of intricate visages.
Deki has participated in international group exhibitions such as the 7th Venice Biennale of Architecture in 2000, and the 7th Lyon Biennial in 2003, as well as in prestigious Japanese exhibitions. However, Deki didn’t always want to become a painter.
“I initially aimed to become a designer, dreaming of creating CD jacket designs. However, my career as a painter took off after winning an award in a competition I entered while still in school,” she shared.
Deki cited Sicily as a significant influence on her work. With the rolling expanses of blues and greens, it's no surprise that Deki finds herself frequently drawn to the sea.
She also pointed out that the peaceful surroundings of her home greatly benefit her as an artist, “The time I spend by the sea, where I can feel nature firsthand and relax, is very important to me. Even though I get sunburned…"
You can learn more about Yayoi Deki and her work via Instagram. For more information about the Minority Flags exhibition, visit Perrotin on their website, Instagram and Facebook.
Location: Perrotin, 807, K11 ATELIER Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Opening Hours: From Tuesdays to Saturdays, 11 AM to 7 PM
Exhibition Period: From Jan. 10, until Mar. 8, 2025.
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