The Light Fort

Yoh Nagao (1981) is a Japanese contemporary artist who passionately pursues an artistic and philosophical theme - We the future indigenous. The statement suggests that we should have a strong hold on our ancestral roots as our civilisations increasingly become homogeneous due to globalisation.

With an immediate influence from pop art, Yoh explores this theme through mixed media collages, colourful paintings and public art murals. When he travels for his projects, he prefers working within local contexts while carrying a deep connection to his homeland. Nagao is one of Japan's leading international urban artists, and his works have been exhibited around the world, including shows such as No Commission - The Dean’s Collection 2017, Miami Art Fair 2019, amongst others.

In his above-mentioned style, Yoh Nagao painted what he calls a light fort, to signify the themes of togetherness, inclusion and hope with a vibrant use of pop culture references from India and Japan.

Now seen on everyday life objects, the artist painted Goddess Laxmi’s hand that preserves a rose, representing a welcome symbol to remind us of the Indian tradition of अतिथिदेवो भव (‘The Guest is God '). This hand becomes a central force within the mural, guarding the fort’s vision of an inclusive future. The ‘Jaali’ (latticed screen), which frames the colourful patterns on the facade within its blue outlines, merges Indo-Islamic visuals and architecture seamlessly in the mural.

While the patterns of spikes symbolise protection, derived from the Ainu Tribe of Japan, from which Yoh draws his ancestry, reminding people to look after each other. A confident red sun - the Japanese national symbol - shines through the tree, remembering Japan’s definition as ‘the land of the rising sun’.