A. INFO
Aya takano. Born on December 22, 1976 in Saitama, Japan—where she spent most of her time. Takano was heavily influenced by her father, who, although not famous, introduced her to science fiction which she became enthralled with and ended up inspiring her art. Takano, herself, has ended up writing science fiction. She became the assistant to Takashi Murakami, under him she was part of Kaikai Kiki Co. and she is now represented by Galerie Perrotin.

B. EDUCATION
She attended Tama Art University after telling her parents that she wouldn’t attend university, unless she could enter an art program. She didn’t study these in school, but she learned to play the syamisen and is trained in traditional Japanese dance.

C. LIFE EVENTS
The Great East Japan Earthquake and nuclear accidents of 11 March 2011, these two events had a major impact on her. The impact was so profound that she ended up taking yoga and meditation classes as well as becoming vegetarian. This is also the reason why she learned to play the syamisen and trained in traditional Japanese dance. Although she’s never said anything explicitly about her personal life besides the emotional impact the Great East Japan Earthquake and the nuclear weapon accidents had on her, we can infer that she didn’t enjoy her life when she was younger, in an interview Denise Tsui she says this about her interest in science fiction, “Looking back, I think I was very uncomfortable with the world I knew and its system until I left school and my parents’ place. I think I was always looking for another world. Now I am in an adventure that is my life, and that is probably why I have lost some interest [in science fiction].”

D. ART
Aya Takano uses soft, pastel colors to depict a sort of innocence and youthfulness in the characters featured in her work. The colors are also used to depict a surreal and imagined future for the people of tomorrow. These people she imagines as androgynous and detached from gender. The backgrounds are filled and cluttered with an assortment of things to display the infinite possibilities for a brighter future. She also uses proportions in interesting ways. The eyes on her characters are big, round orbs reminiscent of bug eyes. The big eyes serve as a demonstration for the childlike wonder people should have for the world and the hope they should have for the future. Their limbs are long and slender, alien like; a depiction of evolution possibly when we let go of our earthly barings. We can also mention texture as one of the defining features of her artwork. She utilizes oil paint to make her work, but to me at least, it looks like blended out pastels. This is one of the ways she depicts a sort of naivety that comes with youth, more can be found in the actual subjects of her work which she has described as young people and teens.

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