Emiko Aida
Biography
She was born in Tokyo, Japan and graduated from MA, Fine Art, The Tokyo University of Arts / MA Printmaking, Royal College of Art, UK. She is currently a painter, printmaker and mixed media artist living in London, UK. Her work is exhibited in the U.K., the U.S.A., Italy, China and Japan and in many private, public and corporate collections including the New York Public Library, USA, Guangdong Museum of Art, China and Ashmolean Museum, UK. Her works were included in 2018 The Columbia Threadneedle Prize, UK, 2019 Personal Structures, Venice Art Biennale, Italy, 2021 London Art Biennale, UK. She was awarded at 2014 16th SPACE International Print Biennial, Korea, Vivien Leigh Bequest Prize, Ashmolean Museum, UK and Thomas Word Award, National Open Competition, UK. Her publications are in 2010 'PRINTMAKERS TODAY' by Schiffer Publishing, USA, 2015 ‘Scintilla 18’ by The Journal of the Vaughan Association, UK. ‘50 Artist to Watch: 2023 Edition’ by Florence Contemporary Gallery, online.
She has been a member of Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers since 2006.
What’s your background?
I was born in Jindajii, Tokyo, a town with a Japanese temple dedicated to the Water God. Water is worshipped there, and growing up, bushes, botanical gardens, wetlands, streams, and rivers surrounded me. My ancestors and family took Buddhism teaching and held a small temple at home next to a miniature Shinto shrine. Bell sounds from a Christian monastery nearby and the Buddhist temple were my daily clock. I find nature to be the element I most strongly connect to, both spiritually and emotionally. For over 20 years, I have lived in London. My artistic outpourings show a quest to return to my roots.
What does it mean to you to win the Collectors Art Prize?
It is a great honour and encouragement for women artists like me to receive this prize. Women artists were not treated equally to men when I was an art student in Japan. Most opportunities had been given to male artists and age discrimination also existed. The situation is still unchanged. Most competitions have age limits there. Elder artists can’t apply. Many women artists feel the necessity to be out of Japan early in their careers to look for any opportunities. Yayoi Kusama chose the way, for example.
What do you think is the role of art in the world today?
The world today is in turmoil: pandemic, war, earthquake, extreme weather, financial crisis, political unfairness and so on. We are facing a tsunami of changes now. I think each of us should be aware of the changes and do something to contribute to people in our societies. What I want to do as an artist is to wash the darkness in people’s minds and nourish them with love and light depicted in my works. I trust true art is in the bright side and holds a flag of freedom.
What would it be if you could change one thing about the art world?
Difficult question. The art world has many layers in different mediums. Fashion in Fine Art world also exists. Once one thing has gone, another thing comes in. Standing on the ground firmly in the uncertain art world with trust in myself produces a small spot in the art world, which hopefully makes a change to the uncertainty ironically.
What are your most significant professional achievements?
It is that I am still exiting and creating new works after years of struggles of ignorance, criticisms, and rejections. Achievement is not by someone else’s judgement. It is to create own path and recognize the value of it in own life. Each step in any stage of an art career is precious and recently I feel I have reached in the next stage, which means creating work for only my satisfaction is over and going beyond own limitation of ‘a little me’ to create works to join into invisible universal forces to save humanity.
What do you wish to tell viewers about your work that might not come out explicitly? What do you hope to inspire with your artwork?
Although I use images of physical objects, I pour invisibility, love of nature, and spirituality into my work. They exist in the space between visible objects like petals and flowers. Creating space is most important to me. It’s not only in my works, but also minds in viewers consequently.
What advice would you give to the upcoming generation of artists?
There are many struggles in the Art world just like life. Never give up! When challenging something, failure is inevitable. Failure doesn’t mean unsuccess. It is learning that certain way does not work to you. In this sense, you are succeeded.
In what direction would you like to see your career go in the next five years?
As I started to feel getting into a next stage in my art career, I hope to create more works and send publicly more messages to wash away the build-up darkness in human minds. Whatever a little existent I am, I would like to keep my intention higher. Five years are very short period. I may be still walking up the same cliff, but I hope to see brighter light there. Exhibiting my work in a larger gallery will be ideal, for instance, and I would like to see myself dancing around the space.
Country UK / Japan
Website https://www.emikoaidaartist.com/
