April 2006, First Edition, Hayazawa Publishing, Japan

Aya Takano is a Japanese painter, Superflat artist, manga artist, and science fiction essayist. Takano is represented by Kaikai Kiki, the artistic production studio created in 2001 by Takashi Murakami. Adding a hint of eroticism to the realm of Japanese manga and science fiction novels, Takano has created her own imaginary world, in which lithe female characters freely float and drift through fantasy realms. Though active in the commercial realm (her images have been used for CD jackets and music videos, as well as a high-profile Issey Miyake collaboration), Takano also exhibits her paintings and drawings in art venues internationally, earning a strong reputation as an important contemporary artist.