WHAT

The exhibition is the latest presentation from the popular Japanese painter, illustrator, sci-fi writer, and manga artist, who has made many artistic shifts in her career, starting out with imagery that evoked eroticism and impertinence, but which has now evolved to be guided by science, nature, and a respect for human life. In this exhibition, she highlights these themes through the different characters she depicts who go about their daily lives and interact with family and friends as well as animals. 

WHY

Both visually appealing and invigorating, Takano’s works clearly highlight her priorities and intentions. She jumps the line between the real and the imagined as she portrays the stories of her friends and family growing up in 1990s East Asia, mainly China and Japan. The surface level interpretation of her works leaves the audience satisfied by the beautiful images and insight into what it was like to live in Shanghai and Japan during the 90s. However, upon deeper analysis, the audience gets the opportunity to see how the artist uses animism and other symbols to discuss her childhood, femininity, and sexuality.