Toyofuku Ryo: The Golden Realm

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Oi! is honoured to host renowned Japanese artist Toyofuku Ryo’s first solo exhibition in Hong Kong. Toyofuku Ryo is known for his art-making concept of creating the extraordinary in the ordinary through his large-scale installation works. He believes that his art can provide an unforgettable experience for visitors, and hopes that what they experience will remain in their hearts and give them new perspectives, allowing them to gain new insights when they step back into their everyday routine.

To tailor-make for this exhibition, Toyofuku Ryo came to Hong Kong and collected elements from the local culture to present two large-scale installations at Oi!. Aglow with golden brilliance, the serene and elegant Golden Tearoom was full of drawings showing Hong Kong elements through the eyes of Toyofuku. This tranquil space, complemented by a garden reminiscent of a Japanese karesansui (dry garden), resembled a floating island in the heart of the bustling city. Golden Playroom offered a stark contrast as an extraordinary game room detached from reality. Filled with decorative elements from different cultures, as well as various electronic and board games, Golden Playroom invited visitors to interact and engage with others through the act of play in Toyofuku’s another world. While the two installations represented two different types of artistic expression, they were unified by the overarching theme of The Golden Realm.

ABOUT THE ARTIST / ORGANISER

Born in Tokyo in 1976, Toyofuku Ryo is a renowned Japanese artist. He employs a variety of visual, experiential, and interactive expressions to capture the external phenomena he observes, hears, and experiences, while creating spaces that bring the audience together. He places great emphasis on site-specificity, drawing inspiration from the unique characteristics of each location, such as its history, culture and traditions. He often transforms his works into a grand stage and creates workshops based on the theme of his artworks, the exhibition site and its surrounding natural environment, through which a connection can be established with the audience. Toyofuku Ryo has participated extensively in the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale (2006 to 2024) and the Setouchi Triennale (2010, 2013, 2025). In addition to presenting his own works at the Ichihara Art x Mix 2020+ and the 2024 Uchiboso Hyakunengo Art Festival, he served as the artistic director for these festivals. He also founded an art school as well as his own art production studio in Chiba, Japan, in 2000, dedicating himself to nurturing a new generation of artistic talents.