Oil on canvas

80.5 × 61 cm. 31 3/4 × 24 in.

Titled in Japanese, signed in English and dated on the reverse stretcher
PROVENANCE
Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo
Important Private Collection, Japan

Note：A label of Tokyo Tomio Koyama Gallery is affixed on the reverse

Shining Magic Holding Dreamland in the Clouds
The Fantastical World of Tomoko Nagai

Born in 1982 in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Tomoko Nagai graduated from Aichi University of the Arts with a degree in oil painting in 2006 and is a rising star among Japan's post-80s artists. Inspired by her childhood memories and doll collections, she uses theatrical composition and profound colours to create a fantasy of “It's a small world.” In addition to paintings, she also specialises in hand-made costumes for her dolls and makes tea parties for them. In today's fast-paced life, her pure imagination retains a place of joy and brings solace and healing, which has won her many loves. Her works have been exhibited at the 2011 Venice Biennale, Sakuragaoka Museum in Aichi, Ueno no Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, and Powerlong in Shanghai. In this spring auction, two of her masterpieces will be presented, inviting viewers to join her in her dreamland on the clouds.

Stepping into the Kingdom of Fairytale, Commencing a Journey in Fantasy

A Day Off of Fruit Punch (Lot 2) is Tomoko Nagai's most iconic panoramic large-format work (146 × 227 cm.) and is one of the artist's three largest paintings ever to appear in an auction, which is rare and precious. The artist has painted a budding landscape in creamy white, pale blue, and soft green, leaving silky, rich, naturalistic brushstrokes like a cream mousse cake. Dressed in a soft fur cloak, the little blonde girl on the left looks up at the viewer with beaming eyes and a smile as if encouraging a fantastical journey. Above the girl, carefully sketched fabrics with various patterns, golden hearts, and stars strung together resemble a stage curtain and echo the artist's interest in quilting. She is surrounded by fantastical and sweet objects such as desserts, the magic mirror that rises in the sky, and gold and silver sequins. Like a glass of sweet and sour fruit wine at a holiday party, the work leaves a sense of surprise.

Looking to the right, a world like Alice in Wonderland unfolds: Huge blue mushrooms resemble umbrella covers; a bone china tea set serves tea automatically but instead pours our roses and spring flowers in full bloom; a bear toy and a doll look expectantly at a white horse bringing a cake and candles; a giant firebird on its long legs tentatively reaches out its head to welcome visitors. In the background, a mist is rising, enveloping the exotic and mysterious palace on the right, and the silhouette of a kitten appears vaguely in the window, seemingly waiting for its next magical encounter. Everything is incredibly rich and captivating, which makes it a significant masterpiece in its own right.

Long Live Friendship, Warm Embrace

Ms Little Hairy (Lot 1) is a close-up portrait of the artist's classic protagonist, the blonde girl, highlighting her innocent appearance as a child. Her soft cheeks are flushed, and her lips are curled in a smile while she looks thoughtfully to her side as if daydreaming. She wears furry carrier pants that incorporate a number of bear dolls, including a miniature grizzly that stands out. The grizzly has been in the painting since 2006 and was inspired by the artist's doll bear. In the painting, the two are close friends who work and progress together. The girl has a patch on her knee, suggesting the frustrations of life and the power of friendship to heal the wounds. She sprinkles a string of shining golden stars like the magic powder of a fairy. She is the navigator of the kingdom of dreams in Tomoko Nagai's world, reaching towards the softest parts of people's hearts, taking the fatigue out of their busy lives, and bringing back their innocent dreams.

Price estimate:
HKD: 45,000 – 65,000
USD: 5,700 - 8,300

Auction Result:
HKD: 84,000