120,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿

🌸 Our Spring Sale is here! Save on Books, Toys, & Puzzles! With overnight NZ-wide delivery 🎉

Ay-O Happy Rainbow Hell

By Kit Brooks and Ay-O and Sukeda Kenryo
0.0 (0 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Ay-O Happy Rainbow Hell is a vibrant and comprehensive catalogue celebrating the first major US museum exhibition of the avant-garde artist Ay-O, famously known as the “Rainbow Artist” for his vivid use of colour. Featuring around 140 stunning illustrations from the Smithsonian's Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and other institutions, the book explores Ay-O's legacy within the Fluxus movement and his compelling relationship with the rainbow motif, described by the artist as his “rainbow hell.”

The book includes insightful essays by Kit Brooks, the Japan Foundation Assistant Curator of Japanese Art, providing biographical context and analysis of Ay-O's work, as well as an illustrated essay by longtime printer Sukeda Kenryo detailing the meticulous silkscreen printing process that brings the artist's designs to life. The artist's own message adds a personal touch to this kaleidoscopic tribute.
Read More
Format: Hardback
TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK Please add to wishlist to be notified when back in stock

Sorry, we're currently out of stock of Ay-O Happy Rainbow Hell. Please add to your Wishlist and we'll send you an email as soon as it's back in stock.

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This exquisitely produced volume is ideal for fans of contemporary and experimental art, collectors, and those interested in Japanese avant-garde culture and the Fluxus art movement. Its richly illustrated content and detailed essays also make it a valuable resource for students and scholars of modern art history.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Published in conjunction with the exhibition held at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, March 25-September 10, 2023

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

This kaleidoscopic catalog, and first book in English dedicated to Ay-O, celebrates the avant-garde artist's first major museum exhibition in the United States.

Known as the "Rainbow Artist" for the prominent bright motif in his work, Ay-O has long referred to this compulsion as his "rainbow hell." Ay-O Happy Rainbow Hell invites readers into the vibrant world of his brilliant art, mind, and imagination, featuring artwork from the first major US museum exhibition devoted to his work.

Printed on heavy 100# paper and in 7 colours (with added green, orange, and metallic gold inks, plus 2 spot colours and spot varnish) to achieve Ay-O's vibrant colour palette, the book is its own stunning art object. The dustjacket, printed and silkscreened on uncoated, felted art board, is die-cut to reveal the rainbow-printed caseside. Ay-O Happy Rainbow Hell presents approximately 140 gorgeous illustrations from the Smithsonian's Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, home to the largest US collection of Ay-O's silkscreen prints, and loans from other US institutions along with enlightening catalog entries to better appreciate each piece.

Additionally, the book includes:

  • An essay from Kit Brooks, the Japan Foundation Assistant Curator of Japanese Art, that provides a biography of Ay-O; explores the artist's fluctuating explanations for his rainbow fixation and its simultaneous liberation and restriction; and emphasises his legacy as an eminent member of Fluxus, an experimental art group in the 1960s and 1970s.
  • An illustrated essay from Ay-O's longtime printer Sukeda Kenryo, where he describes his painstaking work to translate the artist's designs onto prismatic silkscreen prints, work that can take up to a year to accomplish.
  • A message from the artist Ay-O himself.

Ay-O Happy Rainbow Hell is a colourful and comprehensive book that pays tribute to an extraordinary career and legacy as luminous as the art itself.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781588347411

Publisher: Smithsonian Books

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 21 March 2023

Country: United States

Imprint: Smithsonian Books

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 254.0mm

Height: 285.0mm

Weight: 2g

Pages: 160

Collections

Arts & Culture Ay-O Kit Brooks Non-Fiction Penguin Books Sukeda Kenryo

About the Author

AY-O is a Japanese experimental visual and performance artist who is a notable member of the Fluxus movement that began in the 1960s. KIT BROOKS is the Japan Foundation Assistant Curator of Japanese Art at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art, specializing in prints and paintings of the Edo and Meiji periods.

Also by Kit Brooks

View all
  • Pre-order
    The Last Immortals: Dawn of the Axolotl
    The Last Immortals: Dawn of the Axolotl tells the story of Ace, an abandoned axolotl who struggles to survive both human and animal predators in his quest to save himself—and his entire species. This epic middle grade fantasy, perfect for fans of Warrior Cats, introduces readers to the fascinating world of axolotls, the X-Men of the sea. There's danger lurking...
    By Kit Brooks
    Hardback
    $5000
    Pre-order
    Out 29 Sep 2026
  • Pre-order
    The Last Immortals: Rise of the Rebels
    For fans of the Warrior Cats franchise, this action-packed sequel follows Zephyr, a tank-bred axolotl newly freed into the lake whose rebel faction is intent on destroying the Immortal Code. Zephyr isn't out to make friends. After a gruelling escape from an axolotl breeding facility, all he cares about is being reunited with his sister Luna. He places his trust...
    By Kit Brooks
    Hardback
    $5000
    Pre-order
    Out 29 Sep 2026

More from Arts & Culture

View all
  • Dylan's Pick
    Bold Types
    A tribute to 32 truly independent bookshops throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, from north of Auckland down to Dunedin, and coast to coast. Jane Ussher's photographs show every bookstore in its unique nature - including behind the counter, smoko rooms, the mess which tells the hardworking story behind the joy of matching books with customers. Jemma Moreira's careful editing has crafted...
    By Jane Ussher
    Hardback
    $5999
    Elsewhere:
    $7000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    Shirl's Pick Shirl's Pick
    Home Again
    Join rock-legend, former Shihad frontman and lead singer of The Adults, Jon Toogood in this unflinching and no-holds-barred memoir Home Again.This is more than a rock story. Toogood looks back on a 37-year career that helped define New Zealand rock music, and the personal cost that came with it. From a music-obsessed childhood in Wellington to the deafening roar of international stages, this...
    By Jon Toogood
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
    New Release
    Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
    Embark on a culinary adventure with Moana of Motunui with Pacific recipes inspired by Moana and Moana 2! After a long day of sailing to see how far you’ll go or keeping the demigod Maui out of trouble with Te Fiti, catch a break with the delicious dishes in Moana: The Official Cookbook! Featuring more than 50 recipes spanning the...
    By Monique Fiso
    Hardback
    $4499
    Elsewhere:
    $5299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • This Angry Pen of Mine
    This Angry Pen of Mine by Layne Staley invites you to dive into the untold creative world of Layne Staley, the legendary voice behind Alice in Chains. This extraordinary collection showcases his handwritten lyrics, deeply personal poetry, stunning original artwork, rare photos, fan tributes, and so much more. Step into the world of Layne Staley like never before. For the...
    By Layne Staley
    Hardback
    $7299
    Elsewhere:
    $8999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Did I Ever Tell You This?
    In this unexpected memoir, written in a creative burst of just a few months in 2022, Sam Neill tells the story of how he became one of the world’s most celebrated actors, who has worked with everyone from Meryl Streep to Isabel Adjani, from Jeff Goldblum to Sean Connery, from Steven Spielberg to Jane Campion. By his own account, his...
    By Sam Neill
    Paperback
    $3799
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • They Bloom Because of You
    Bestselling author and Instagram sensation Jessica Urlichs returns with a new collection of beautifully observed poems about the ever-evolving journey of motherhood - the hard, the magic and the fleeting. ‘A raw and honest read that makes you feel seen and understood in a way that will bring you to tears.’ - Hilary Swank ‘A book to keep close and...
    By Jessica Urlichs
    Paperback
    $3000
    Elsewhere:
    $3600
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Odyssey
    The Odyssey by Homer is a monumental epic that has enthralled readers for centuries with its rich tapestry of adventure and human struggle. It chronicles the perilous journey of Odysseus, the cunning King of Ithaca, as he strives to return home after the fall of Troy. During this ten-year odyssey, Odysseus confronts myriad dangers, both natural and supernatural, that test...
    By Homer
    Paperback
    $2499
    Elsewhere:
    $2800
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Leaves of Grass
    A collectible new Penguin Classics series offers beautiful, slim, clothbound editions of ten favourite poets. In 1855, Walt Whitman published his first collection of poetry, Leaves of Grass. The volume received great praise from leading Transcendentalist poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. This encouragement led to what would become a lifelong project, as Whitman expanded and rewrote the volume until his death...
    By Walt Whitman
    Hardback
    $2200
    Elsewhere:
    $2400
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Great Writers and the Cats who Owned Them
    Throughout history, cats and writers have bonded together in a magical combination of comfort, companionship and inspiration. The famous authors featured here range from Samuel Johnson, whose cat Hodge dined on oysters, and Edward Lear, whose charismatic cat Foss was missing half his tail, to Margaret Mitchell, L. M. Montgomery and Dorothy L. Sayers, who rescued her kitten Blitz from...
    By Susannah Fullerton
    Hardback
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Vagabond
    The outrageous, riotous memoir from the cult actor and star of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Clue, and IT. Actor, rock 'n' roll singer, the prince of Halloween, confusing sex symbol. Many labels have been given to the inimitable Tim Curry over the years. All are true, and yet none are quite right. Here, for the first time, Curry reveals...
    By Tim Curry
    Hardback
    $4499
    Elsewhere:
    $6000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Odyssey
    Composed at the rosy-fingered dawn of world literature almost three millennia ago, The Odyssey is a poem about violence and the aftermath of war; about wealth, poverty and power; about marriage and family; about travellers, hospitality, and the yearning for home. This fresh, authoritative translation captures the beauty of this ancient poem as well as the drama of its narrative....
    By Homer
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3599
    Backorder
    Ships early October
  • Beautiful Chaos
    The Instant Sunday Times Bestseller Selected poems from bestselling author and Instagram poet, Jessica Urlichs. 'These words awaken the magic of life by celebrating the ordinary.' - Giovanna Fletcher Motherhood is messy and beautiful, and hard and humbling. We adore our children and sometimes we miss ourselves. Beautiful Chaos is a collection of raw, honest poems about motherhood, capturing everything...
    By Jessica Urlichs
    Paperback
    $2900
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.

Arts & Culture lists from the team

Explore our curated lists from our heroes to find your next read!

The Latest at Book Hero

View all