About the artwork
Hiro Ando’s captivating works are imbued with symbolism and wit, as the artist draws upon elements of Japanese mass culture and tradition to create a dialogue between past and present. This sculpture features Japan’s beloved cultural icon “Maneki Neko” (Lucky Cat), a recognised symbol of wealth and prosperity. Yet this icon appears to have been given a playful mechanical upgrade, as it is depicted in robot form, with a bright red colouring and glossy surface conveying a sense of urban modernity. Robocat thus is a tribute to Japan's current status as an expansive technological hub, playing on modern-day aesthetic constructions of robo-tech and artificial intelligence.
About the artist
Acquiring his degree from the University of Art, Hiro Ando began his prolific career in 1995 in Tokyo, depicting its nighttime urban landscape. With a lot of inspiration, the streets proved to be an endless source of material for his narratives which often included the red fish in addition to the urban background. The act of the red fish in his paintings greatly reminds of the ancient Japanese watercolor paintings, thus making his work permeated with both a contemporary and traditional feeling. With his artistic beginnings tied to illustration, he would draw several sketches before actually working on the canvas, and his practice has since spread to video material, digital support, and sculpture.