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Rokkaku Ayako eschews brushes, consistently working by painting directly with her fingertips dipped in paint. Starting with a blank canvas, she applies vague, seemingly random marks that gradually take shape and fill the canvas. Eventually a young female protagonist emerges, brought to life with vibrant, dynamically applied dabs of color, and the work is complete. The girl, characterized by a pout and large, distinctive eyes, conveys her emotions awkwardly yet compellingly through subtle facial expressions. She is youthful and innocent, yet possesses a strong will. Overlapping shades of fluorescent pink, vivid red, sky blue, and yellow, produce resonances that transcend the colors’ individual qualities. (M.N.)