Okokume

Okokume addresses the climate crisis through her alter ego, Cosmic Girl. This character reappears throughout Okokume’s paintings, with her signature blue skin and pink hair. Her goal? To spread a message of eco-consciousness. As Okokume says, "she travels in space and tends to the planets in need and restores them to their former glory." When painting, Okokume uses a mixture of acrylics, oil pastels and soft pastels to create a fluffy texture. The figure's hair resembles the clouds she drifts upon. Her neon use of colour lends everything an extra-terrestrial feel. This, along with her cartoonish style, reference Lowbrow art. This movement emerged in 1960s Los Angeles, with its roots in underground comix, graffiti and punk music.

Okokume’s work is heavily influenced by manga and Japanese popular culture, like the Studio Ghibli films. She draws on the universal appeal of cute to get her eco-message across. Cosmic Girl's childlike appearance is deliberate, and plays into Japanese kawaii culture, equating youth with charm and loveability. Here, the character's age reflects the innocence of her motivations. Okokume uses Cosmic Girl to address the issue of climate destruction in an accessible, hopeful way.