Misa Aihara

Aug 28

Biography

Misa Aihara is a Japanese contemporary artist recognized by her impressive works through its originality and the strength of its visual language. She was born in 1942, in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. At the age of fourteen, she wanted to be an artist-painter. After the art training at Joshibi Univ. of Art & Design, Tokyo, she realized that she was very interested in abstract painting. Since then, she has made abstract paintings.

In 1972 she visited some African countries. She often sketched people in motion at the Niger River's edge and the Dakar bazaar in Senegal. She was intrigued by their dynamics. She is creative in both her thought processes and artistic work, with a consistent sense of dynamism shaping her approach.

After the journey she spent four years in London, UK, visiting museums across Europe and studying old masters. She produced etching works. She visited the print room at the British Museum to examine Goya's prints. She also visited the New York City Library and studied the prints of Katsushika Hokusai. She felt thrilled by analyzing the compositions of his printworks. She also was influenced by Japanese old masters; Sessyu, Tawaraya Sotatu.

She came back to her home country in 1975. She has participated in many solo and group exhibitions in her home country, over Europe and the USA. She has attended prestigious art events including Florence Art Biennale, the London Art Biennale, the Art Expo New York, Spectrum Miami, the Chianciano Art Awards, among others.

She lives and works in Funabashi, Japan.

Artist Statement

My artistic life is a single continuous current flowing through time. I have always tried liberating myself from an established concept of art.

At the start of my artistic career, I was absorbed in exploring the possibilities of colors. I designated sky blue as the primary color. I learned to develop my imagination around the core color sky blue. Then, I paused to begin painting with the main color. I started “Filozofias Koloroj(Esperanto:colors to philosophize)-series”. After that, I felt free in using colors. I began searching for something that matched my imagination.

In the creation of “Verko (Esperanto:a work of art)-series” I discovered a boundless freedom, an unchaining from pre-existing rules and a newfound belief in the unrestricted expression that painting could offer me.

My subject is a philosophical exploration of what constitutes ‘reality' of within a work of art. I do it with pictorial abstract elements. I want to invite the viewer to explore a deeper dimension of consciousness.

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