Acrylic on canvas

91 × 116.7 cm. 35 7/8 × 46 in.

Signed in English, dated on the left of the canvas edge
PROVENANCE
Private Collection, Asia

Reshaping and Representing Classical Aesthetics
Takeru Amano's Tribute to Tradition and Innovation in Art

Takeru Amano, an artist born in the 1970s, is the son of the renowned Japanese artist Yoshitaka Amano. Growing up in an environment steeped in art, he looked up to his father as a role model and aspired to make a name for himself in the art world. At the age of 20, he studied at a printmaking studio in New York, and after three years of learning, he returned to Japan. Combining elements and spirits of New York's “Neo-Pop” movement, graffiti culture, and Japan's manga and anime art, he pursued a creative philosophy that merges tradition and modernity. Using clean and precise lines and even application of colours, he reimagined classical mythological figures, setting forth on an artistic path distinct from his father's. His works have been exhibited in various locations around the world, including New York, London, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Taipei. After the debut of his first collection ICONS in 2020, his reputation soared, and his works are now highly sought after.

Created in 2022, Venus #220 is a rare portrayal of a male figure within the artist's Venus series. The inspiration for this piece comes from the sweet love between Venus and Mars. The artwork features a lemon yellow background, which is bright and captivating yet not overpowering, thereby highlighting the gentle and kind main characters amidst soft pink tones. Transforming Venus into a male form, he depicts the god of war, Mars, holding a horse, symbolizing their interdependence as the ultimate companions in life. Both the figures and the war horse gaze forward with iconic “bean-shaped eyes” in cartoon, with a hint of blushing red on their faces, and their lips pressed into a line. Takeru Amano uses pea-green to illustrate the horse's fluffy mane, and complements it with shades of pastel blue and pink, giving a dreamy and elegant quality to the snow-white horse. The artist's perspective from a new generation expresses an eternal yearning for love and beauty, creating a contemporary context that transcends time and space, showcasing the “beauty of the classics” in a refreshing way.

Price estimate:
HKD 80,000 – 150,000
USD 10,300 – 19,200