Playful visions of a future free from social constraints.
Aya Takano's drawings and paintings share personal and quietly political visions of freedom. Her signature wide-eyed figures are delicately rendered in soft lines and muted hues with watercolor, graphite and oil. She sees her work in lineage from 70s Shōjo manga (girl comics), founded on an ethos of feminine strength and power. Classical literature, folklore, science-fiction and Western Impressionism are also important influences for the artist. Throughout the works, recognisable motifs like architecture and urban space blend with dreamlike perspectives in order to challenge notions of ‘normal...
Bio
Aya Takano was born in 1976 in Saitama, Japan, and now lives and works in Tokyo.
Career
Shortly after graduating she became an assistant for Japanese Superflat pioneer Takashi Murakami, and is now a member of his artistic production studio, Kaikai Kiki.
Did you know?
Alongside her artistic practice, Takano has published numerous manga novels and essays on science fiction - seeing doubtless contributing to her significant online following.