LY in Tokyo

Artist LY guides us through the places and spaces in Tokyo that have galvanised her practice - including some locations that are instantly recognisable in her latest works. Photography by Niko Wu.

2 min read

Imperial Place East Gardens ,Chiyoda

Planet Park, Hachioji

Ly used to work exclusively in black and white, but after a while felt it limited her drawing and expressiveness. It was an encounter with Planet Park skatepark that pushed her perspective on this, and encouraged her to introduce grey into her palette for the first time.

Planet Park

On her first visit to this skatepark, LY was struck by the way the concrete atmosphere reflected how she was feeling. She could more accurately express her worldview by incorporating its hues in her work. Grey became synonymous with hope. Skateboarding and the skatepark are now significant motifs in her practice.

Confused LUV at Planet Park

LY's first work using grey

Shinjuku Gyoen and Imperial Gardens East

Urban escapism is a strong influence on her work. These landscapes in particular are among LY's favourite places to walk.

Shinjuku Gyoen, Shinjuku

Imperial Place East Gardens, Chiyoda

iki EXPRESSO

The restaurant scene in Tokyo appears in many of LY's paintings, and she picks out the contemporary iki EXPRESSO as her favourite place to eat out in the city.

iki EXPRESSO, Tokiwa

Confused LUV waiting outside

Tokyo National Museum and The National Museum of Western Art, Ueno

Ueno is home to cultural institutions such as zoos and museums. When LY was a child, she would visit the area with her family to see the art and paintings, and sketch her favourite animals at the zoo. The first impressions of her artistic career were made in this culturally vibrant district.

Tokyo National Museum

Tokyo National Museum

More works from LY to discover


More in this series

abstract blue artwork by Anish Kapoor
article

Norman Rosenthal on Anish Kapoor

Norman Rosenthal, guiding force behind the artist's first silkscreen print, reflects on his relationship with artworks by Anish Kapoor – shiny, dirty and sublime – since they first crossed paths in 1978.

5 min read
Tomas sanchez inspecting his print in his studio
article

Tomás Sánchez: En el paisaje interior

In conversation, Cuban painter Tomás Sánchez illuminates the spiritual underpinnings and sustainable production of his debut timed release.

6 min read
artwork and books on workshop table
article

Avant Arte & For Freedoms

Our collaboration with the trailblazing, artist-run collective.

3 min read
The new generation of art collectors, 2024
guide

Who are the new generation of art collectors?

1,500 of them took part in our first collector report. Here's what we found out.


Insightful?

Insightful?

Subscribe to the Avant Arte newsletter for the art world in your inbox.


Discover more insights

black and white protrait of Ibrahim El-Salahi
00:59
video

Ibrahim El-Salahi

Ibrahim El-Salahi’s mesmerising paintings represent the dream of postcolonial Sudan. His prison drawings expose the nightmare hidden beneath.

2 min read
Photo of Zhang Xiaogang
00:45
video

Zhang Xiaogang

After growing up during the Cultural Revolution in China, Zhang Xiaogang became internationally revered for his intimate portraits of Chinese history.

Walton Ford
00:42
video

Walton Ford

American painter Walton Ford loved drawing animals as a kid and never stopped painting the wildlife he cherished.

Monochrome portrait of Bridget Riley leaning over her large scale geometric artworks
00:59
video

Bridget Riley

Discover the illusionary artworks of a trailblazing British painter.

2 min read