Acrylic on canvas

182 x 227 cm. 71 5/8 x 89 3/8 in.

Singed in English and dated on reverse
PROVENANCE
26 May 2013, Christie's Hong Kong Spring Auction, Lot 142
Private Collection, Asia

Time and Space in Another Dimension
The Luxurious Phantasmagoria of
Aya Takano
A leading figure of the Japanese contemporary art scene, Aya Takano conveys a number of concepts through her creations: self-discovery, mythology, theories of the universe, sexuality, joy, and the light that dispels the darkness. She uses unique visual effects to bring the subconscious to the surface and reflect her own inner world.
A Rhapsody in Two Dimensions
After the Japanese economy's bubble of speculation burst in the late 1980s, the phenomenon of otaku culture slowly began to take shape in Japanese society. In this movement, which combines elements of manga and pop culture, creators use kawaii visuals to create a sense of escapism. While this mainstream culture appears happy and innocent on the surface, it is in fact a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the different forms of alienation in today's technologically advanced society. When Takashi Murakami's “superflat” aesthetics took Japan by storm, Aya Takano — who at the time was studying at the Tama Art University in Tokyo — was working as his assistant. Takano's approach, which incorporates elements of science-fiction with two-dimensional visuals in order to create a powerful “aura of femininity”, earned her fervent praise from Murakami, and she has since blossomed into one of Japan's most iconic female artists.
I am constantly travelling through time and space.
I don't know where or in what time I will land.
—Aya Takano
Like countless other young Japanese people, Aya Takano's inner world was profoundly influenced by science-fiction, and this influence is omnipresent in her work. The mysterious world that Osamu Tezuka molded in his manga； the revolutionary spirit of one of Impressionism's founding figures, Édouard Manet； the phantasmagorical work of Yayoi Kusama； and the colorful embellishments of Gustav Klimt all served as inspiration for Takano's hallucinatory visuals and rapid, short brushstrokes, which come together to form an artistic universe brimming with life.
A Parallel World Between Fantasy and Reality
The work presented for auction — Rongo Rongo, Arises from Oblivion — was completed in 2008. Unlike the artist's subsequent works, which are somewhat erotic in nature, this painting contains a multitude of visual elements and lively characters that recount a sweet, fantastical narrative. It is a coveted work that is highly evocative of Takano's unique artistic style.
A universe at the intersection between reality and fantasy springs to life on the canvas. Viewers can find familiar elements from the real world — such as a seagull, a black puppy, and a bluebird — to which the artist has attributed unique significance. Under a cascade of magnificent fireworks, a seagull flies directly toward a young girl, like a heavenly spirit delivering a message from afar. The young girl's outstretched arms lead the viewer's gaze to the characters underneath, completing the transition from fantasy to reality. The two girls featured in the painting are interconnected； the unique composition that brings them to the foreground is reminiscent of Marc Chagall.
Takano has a gift for mixing acrylics and watercolors as a means of creating a translucent, fluid painting style. Her paintings transcend traditional standards of composition and perspective； her subjects bound freely off the canvas and feature different proportions, creating a seemingly infinite space. In Rongo Rongo, Arises from Oblivion, the use of red on the girls' faces and joints hints at the beauty of youth and conveys feelings of hope and desire. In contrast to these subjects in the foreground, the background is relatively true-to-life and adds to the realness of the narrative. The blue sky and pink clouds feature gradients, creating a fantastical effect reminiscent of Van Gogh, and it is precisely thanks to this use of warm colors and hyperkinetic elements that the artist is able to draw the viewer into this boundless world, located on a parallel line between fantasy and reality.

Price estimate:
HKD: 1,200,000 - 1,800,000
USD: 152,900 - 229,300

Auction Result:
HKD : --