The Nostalgic Cityscapes of Japanese Illustrator Rokuban

"I want to make art that somehow resonates with the viewer"

Japanese illustrator Rokuban draws fictional cities and urban megastructures that seem to combine a sense of otherworldliness with a nostalgia for the Showa Era of Japan, with perhaps a bit of influence from other East Asian cities thrown in. Even though the residents rarely make an appearance, the sprawling city they inhabit imposes its presence. Sometimes bright and colorful with lights and neon signs alive with warm hues, sometimes darker and more restrained against an invariably cloudy but bright azure sky, his cityscapes are both familiar and foreign, at times inviting and at other times imposing and perhaps even foreboding, depending on how you view them.

On his website, Rokuban posts one of his goals: "I want to make art that somehow resonates with the viewer." After looking through the sample of his work which he has graciously allowed us to post here, perhaps you'll also discover how it resonates with you.