Takeru Amano

Bold and a bit unsettling – perhaps the best way to describe the work of Takeru Amano. That’s partly because he’s reflecting the world that we live in. "I often take inspiration from the things around me,” he says. “Like a sense of unease and distrust towards media, the Internet and TV." He mixes these real-life influences into his manga-esque painting and sculpture. The vibrant colour palette of Japanese neo-pop art is palpable. And there are nods to Western art history too. Realist painters like Gustave Courbet and Edgar Degas are inspirations for Amano. Back in the 19th century, they painted the 'reality' of everyday life. Today, Amano does the same thing, but inspired by Instagram feeds and social media.

To kick off his process, Amano draws in his sketchbook. He then outlines the image much bigger onto canvas and paper, bringing it to life with paint which he applies with an air-brush. The results have an understated humour. They wink at the histoires of portraiture and still life. Often, he remixes the female nude – an art history staple. His titles reference archetypes of femininity. St Mary Magdalen Stands on a Chair (2016), for example. Or, Venus (2019). Striking and expressive, Amano’s work is fun and playful but quietly subversive.