Artaflo Collective

Artist

Pucky

Pucky grew up between the two cultures of Hong Kong and Canada. She graduated from Emily Carr University of Art + Design in 2008, and returned to Hong Kong soon after. She devoted the earlier years of her career into developing her brand in the art toy world, but in recent years, she returned to fine art with the birth of a new, unique, and illusory painting style. Most of Pucky’s commercial works have a sweet and delicate style, making her art a colourful fairy tale, full of warmth and joy and beloved by many. However, her true self is revealed in her personal works. Although she still features characters, they take on a darker side on her canvas by blending a childlike aesthetic with a haunting atmosphere. She expresses the strong life energies of light and darkness through her works, with the wish of establishing a spiritual connection with her audience. The vibrant artworks thus serve as a connection between reality and fantasy, light and darkness. She believes that these cycles and emotions are shared by all humans. Many of Pucky’s darker works were created in such emotional states, but she bridges these conflicting energies with vibrant colours, filling the empty void of space with hope and light.

Artist

Umao

Umao was born in Mie, lives in Tokyo, and graduated from Kyoto Seika University, Faculty of Design. Umao enjoys using animals as the main theme and presents them with simple lines and a single color, bringing the audience into a world full of childlike wonder and vitality. With light and delicate brushstrokes, she outlines various adorable animal figures. Each animal is depicted concisely and vividly, elegantly employs lines to create a vibrant rhythm on the canvas, as if watching the animals leap and frolic in a dance. The use of a single color scheme adds a sense of innocence and purity to the artwork. The artist selects saturated colors like blue and yellow, which make the images of the animals even more vibrant. The application of colors also highlights the childlike nature of the animals, bringing the audience into a colorful and joyful world. Her works exude childlike innocence, evoking memories of happiness and carefree moments from childhood. They awaken a deep love for the natural world and a sense of reverence for animals within people's hearts. At the same time, through simple lines and colors, the artist conveys a pure pursuit of art and a joy for life.

Artist

Zhou Jinhua

Zhou analyses the diverse facades and changes of Chinese society through his art. He observes the sometimes shocking, sometimes ironic scenarios of contemporary life, which are hidden just under the surface of his canvas. Inspired by traditional Chinese landscape painting, the artist depicts his observations by using a bird's eye perspective. To Zhou, it is only from a certain spatial distance can social circumstances and actions become understandable. His early works focused mainly on scenery, with the juxtaposition of grand scenes and ordinary individuals serving as typical symbols in his works. The exaggerated contrasts were full of theatricality, providing a true portrayal of the modern individual within the context of contemporary society. In his later works, Zhou gradually incorporated metaphorical elements that were related to the socio-political and economic environment of the time. These works also hinted at the artist's personal inner monologue about the surrounding world. While these works may have been inspired by specific news events, to the artist, each scene he paints feels familiar and universal, and the small individuals within his art could be Zhou himself or any person in modern society.

Artist

Natsuko Echizen

Natsuko Echizen was born in Ishikawa Japan, and graduated from the Nagoya University of Art. She is renowned for her unique perspective, where fantasy and reality intertwine, giving birth to a captivating narrative. With a background in Japanese painting, she showcases meticulous attention to detail and a delicate touch in her artworks. Echizen's creations revolve around the theme of "coexistence," expressing her desire for a world where humans, animals, plants, and all living beings respect each other's individuality. When observing the world, one can witness the presence of unequal relationships based on factors such as race, gender, and interests. Echizen aims to depict a dignified coexistence that surpasses hierarchical structures, even transcending species boundaries. She aspires to achieve a natural harmony, emphasizing unity rather than mere equality. Echizen's artistic foundation lies in the traditional painting techniques she honed while studying Japanese painting at an art university. Additionally, her background in illustration allows her to breathe life into characters with rich expressions. By combining her experiences in Japanese painting and illustration, Echizen creates pop art that stands on its own, without requiring a shared context. Her artworks radiate the vitality of all living things, igniting the viewer's imagination and unravelling conventional wisdom and fixed concepts.