Ay-O (1931) - Ike no Ahiru

Ike no Ahiru 池のあひる（いけのあひる）｜Ay-O 靉嘔（あいおう）

This silkscreen print titled “Ike no Ahiru (Ducks in a Pond)” is a vivid example of Ay-O’s signature rainbow spectrum expression, a visual language that has brought him international recognition in postwar and contemporary art.

Ay-O is best known for his dynamic use of rainbow gradations, enveloping a wide range of motifs—nature, living beings, and cultural imagery—in radiant layers of color. Through this approach, he creates works that speak directly to the viewer’s senses, conveying joy, vitality, and a tactile sense of energy through color alone.

In this work, ducks floating peacefully on water are rendered in rhythmic bands of luminous color. The familiar and gentle motif of ducks in a pond is transformed into a celebratory scene, where movement, light, and harmony are expressed through Ay-O’s distinctive palette. The image balances playfulness with calm, offering a quietly uplifting presence that is both approachable and sophisticated.

Created using the silkscreen technique in close collaboration with highly skilled master printers, this print achieves exceptional transparency, saturation, and clarity. The carefully layered colors demonstrate Ay-O’s continuous pursuit of technical excellence and expressive intensity.

This work is pencil-signed by the artist and numbered 114/200. It represents a strong example from Ay-O’s mature period, when his rainbow philosophy and silkscreen techniques were fully established.

A charming yet conceptually refined work, “Ike no Ahiru” is an appealing acquisition for collectors of Japanese contemporary art, as well as for those seeking a bright and positive statement piece.

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Artist Profile
1931 Born in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
1954 Graduated from Tokyo University of Education, Faculty of Art
1958 Moved to New York
1963 Exhibited at Gordons Fifth Avenue Gallery, New York
1964 First “Rainbow Happening” at Carnegie Recital Hall, New York
1966 Exhibition at Zwirner Gallery, Cologne
1977 “Rainbow Laundry” event at the World Trade Center, New York
1987 300-meter “Rainbow Eiffel Tower” event, Paris
1991 Exhibition at Emily Harvey Gallery, New York (also in 1993 and 1996)
1992 “Rainbow Happening Series” at the New Museum, New York
1994 Solo exhibition “Some Hanging Pieces No.10” at Fridericianum Museum, Germany

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Accessories
None

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Dimensions & Weight
Image size 28.5 × 37.8 cm
Total size including accessories 28.5 × 37.8 × 0.1 cm
Weight 26.5 g

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Technique & Condition
Silkscreen print on paper
Pencil signed
Edition 114/200
Dated 1991
Condition excellent

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Shipping
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