Tokyoites will have the chance to pick up a marker and color in-between the lines of an image drawn on a giant wall created by Russian pop artist Max Goshko-Dankov.

The Moscow-based artist brings his “huge” coloring wall to Akasaka Sacas square where it will be installed from October 17–18 as part of the events planned for the Year of Russian-Japanese cultural exchange.

City residents and guests are invited to participate in coloring and creating the vivid and remarkable art object, filling the artist’s black and white drawing with color. The artistic walls (2.5x7m) resemble huge coloring books. Artistic artworks inspired by cityscapes of Moscow and Tokyo appear on both sides.

CONTEMPORARY ART

Goshko-Dankov, who has collaborated in the past with MINI Middle East (BMW Group), Kiehl’s (L’Oreal), Levi’s, Swatch, and other international brands, is known for creating bright and colorful contemporary art using abstract and figurative methods.

His coloring walls first appeared in Moscow in 2016. He went on to install walls in Sochi, Istanbul and Beijing in 2017, and this year in Hong Kong, Sofia, Varna and Berlin. Since the start of the art project, Goshko-Dankov’s walls have been colored by over 100,000 people. This is his first installation in Tokyo.

“Art reunites peoples and makes them free,” says Goshko-Dankov. “This event is just a purpose to show everyone their inner creativity, as I just create patterns and outlines, and people help me to create the whole story full of colors and energy.”

TOKYO MEETS MOSCOW

Goshko-Dankov says the images on his Tokyo wall represent his fantasy vision of both Moscow and Tokyo. The Moscow image features such landmarks as the Kremlin, the Bolshoi Theatre and Zaryadye Park, while the Tokyo side will include drawings of the Imperial Palace, Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo Tower, Mount Fuji and other iconic symbols of Japan.

“My creativity is beyond gender, political and religious discourses, as I realize my creative mission is to share with people positive and colorful vibes, and to give the opportunity to reveal themselves through art,” says Goshko-Dankov. “Many lose their inner radiance – it’s time to rebuild our inner world to change the outside world for the better.”

Find details about the Huge Coloring Wall event at the Tokyo Weekender online calendar.

Learn more about artist Max Goshko-Dankov at his website.