Ascending to Hokusai Flock of Chickens

In ‘Ascending to Hokusai’s Flock of Chickens’, Michelle Molinari reimagines Hokusai’s Block of Chickens, expanding his famed oval composition into a striking, contemporary tableau. While Hokusai’s birds peer inquisitively outward, Molinari’s additions turn the scene into an elegy. Seven birds remain upright, their golden plumage gleaming with the artist’s meticulous rendering, while three lie motionless in the foreground. It’s a delicate shift—one that transforms a traditional Japanese print into a poignant memento mori. Time stands still, yet loss is deeply felt.

Provenance: Finalist KAAF Art Prize 2025