23 Rocketman

Rocket 54 stands upright like a promise, its nose pointed skyward, waiting patiently for a countdown that may never come. In Rocketman, the tinplate toy is both hero and relic, a beautifully preserved example of mid-twentieth-century Japanese design, created at a time when imagination and industry combined to send children far beyond the boundaries of their backyards. The colours are striking and confident, and the graphics are bold and unapologetic. Together, they capture a period when the future felt bright, mechanical, and full of possibility.

Japanese tinplate toys from the mid-twentieth century were remarkable achievements in craft and creativity. Working within the limitations of postwar production, makers in Japan developed a visual language that was energetic and optimistic. Rocket 54 carries this spirit in every detail. Saturated reds sit beside turquoise blues and warm yellows. Lightning bolts, stars, numbers, and strong black outlines suggest speed, power, and scientific ambition. The design is direct and thrilling. It was never meant to be subtle. It was made to spark excitement at first glance.

In the painting, the rocket stands in a quiet suburban setting. A modest house rests behind a fence, hedges neatly clipped, evening light settling into calm shadows. Above, the moon hangs faintly in the sky, an echo of the destination that rockets promise. The contrast is deliberate. The stillness of the domestic scene heightens the toy’s ambition. Rocket 54 appears ready for launch, yet it remains firmly grounded in grass and shadow. This tension between motion and stillness reflects the nature of childhood play, where entire universes unfold within a small patch of earth.

The Rocketman of the title is not visible. He exists in memory and imagination. He may be the child who once wound the mechanism, set the toy in motion, and believed in its power to travel. These rockets were not precise scientific models. They were emotional vehicles. They represented adventure, discovery, and progress at a time when space exploration was moving from dream to reality. Through colour and form, they translated global ambition into something a child could hold.

There is also a sense of reflection in the painting. Many tinplate toys were played with until they were worn and forgotten. Those that survive often sit on shelves as collectibles, admired but untouched. By painting Rocket 54 with such care and attention, it regains its presence and scale. It is no longer a small object confined to a cabinet. It stands tall again, commanding space and inviting wonder. The craftsmanship of its original makers is honoured, their anonymous contribution preserved through paint.

Rocketman is ultimately about aspiration and memory. It recalls a time when the future was imagined in bright colours and bold shapes, when technology felt exciting and approachable. The rocket may never leave the ground, but it continues to lift the imagination. In its upright stance and vivid design, it reminds us of the enduring human desire to look upward and believe that anything is possible.

Oil on fine portrait linen: 125 x 95 cm 49.21 x 37.4 in (Sold)