Visitors is an ongoing series of portrait characters by Ushiki Masanori, who is regarded as a cult figure in the art world of Japan and, much like his predecessors Yoshitomo Nara and Takashi Murakami, Ushiki’s aesthetic centres around diverse themes of childhood and contemporary media. Visitors was born on Ushiki’s Instagram timeline on August 13th 2016, and faithfully he continues to post a new character once a day, every day. From sci-fi monsters to beautiful angry alien girls, Ushiki’s Visitors pay tribute to the many expressions and characters the artist met throughout his youth, familiar hallmarks from popular culture that resonate with our collective consciousness.

Ushiki is a rising star with the ability to capture aspects of anime, manga or Tokusatsu (live-action anime) and to re-mix these elements into a fantasy world of creatures that delight the eye and tickle the senses. Equally so, his sophisticated linework and monochrome palette captures the preposterous with a complex elegance.

In his debut European exhibition, Pocko Gallery will be home to Ushiki’s characters throughout the summer and copies of the book, Visitors, will be available to purchase at the exhibition.