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