All My Friends - Issue Six, Away From Home

aya takano featuring

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issue six

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allmyfriendszine@gmail.com www.allmyfriendszine.com @allmyfriendszine

covers

brooklyn walters

@kiss__________me

sticker

birdie blaugrund @birddiiee

ediTors executive editor

abby waisler

lina christopherson-jeong

editor-in-chief

katie pruden

ava hausner

writing & music editor

joseph lee managing editor & social media manager copy editor

conTribuTors (in alphabetical order) Airis Encarnacion Andy Alfaro Anouk Morrissy Athena Merry Beyza Durmuş Briana de Tomas Brooklyn Walters Cameron White Celia Boyd Claire Richards Eiji Mochizuki Gabriella Persia Gabrielle Gowans Halle March Kari Trail Leila Bannon Lilith Noah

Lina Christopherson-Jeong Linn Kuboi Louisa Renee Choi Lucy Elizabeth Hoare Lucy Faulkner Madeleine Ray Maeve Richards Maggie Mcinerney María José Salas Megan Howard Michael DeCristo Mora Barrera Capparros Nicole Kapper Rachel Mcgurk Sylvie Gromada Taneya Prince Terese Coutu

Including interviews with: Aya Takano

maggie mcinerney

still feels like home linn kuboi

nicole kapper

andy alfaro

maría josé salas

airis encarnacion

mora barrera capparros

athena merry

lilith noah

anouk morrissy

gabriella persia

claire richards

celia boyd, leila bannon

gabrielle gowans

taneya prince

AWAY FROM HOME

by Michael G r a c e DeCristo

briana de tomas

sylvie gromada

brooklyn walters

kari trail

megan howard

megan howard

terese coutu

These photographs were all taken by 17 year old me (I am now nearly 21) in the first neighbourhood where I lived away from my parents. I lived in a house full of laughter and love and barefoot dance parties on the lawn with some of the best people I will ever know. This neighbourhood cradled all of us, giving us a place to discover ourselves and each other. In the three years since these photos were taken, the house has dissolved but the memories remain so heavily. If the walls of that old house could talk, it would have so many secrets and stories to tell. Most of us have gone on to follow our dreams and our loves. One of us is floating higher above and all of us down on earth think about him every day.

Halle March

rachel mcgurk

maeve richards

lina christopherson - jeong

beyza durmuş

megan howard

eiji mochizuki

endless road

maggie mcinerney

lucy elizabeth hoare

a y A

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“I believe everything is connected to ou

r deeper inside… My desire to explore the secrets of t he universe is deeply

At first glance, it’s different.

You can just tell by the soft strokes, the feathery touch of bashfulness in every facial expression, and of course the dreamy, out-of-this-world background.

It’s signature Aya Takano. For me, I gravitate towards Ms. Takano’s work because it accurately represents my personal belief of the complexity of girlhood: the intimacy of self exploration.

So when the Kaikai Kiki got me in touch with Ms. Takano, I was overjoyed to say the least! The way I had one of her pieces as my Instagram profile photo… had I subconsciously been manifesting this the entire time? Who knows… the universe connects it all in mysterious ways…

*Certain parts of Ms. Takano’s responses have been subtly altered for grammar and punctuation reasons. Other than that, all responses are authentic to her.*

connected

with my a

rtistic inspirations.”

夜宴, 2002, Acrylic on canvas ©️2002 Aya Takano/ Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

LCJ: Hello Ms. Takano, it’s such a pleasure to meet you. I’ve been a huge fan of your work since I wandered upon your work a couple years back. Are you currently based in Japan during this time?

AT: Thank you! Me too, it’s my pleasure! Yes, I’m based in Japan during this pandemic.

LCJ: Where do you create? Do you prefer a studio, the nature, or in the comfort of your home?

AT: I work at both my studio and home. But nature would be great; it’s what I want to do someday.

LCJ: It seems as if a lot of your work surrounds the concept of intimacy, not only within relationships, but also with oneself. The vulnerability of sensibility, and even sexuality. How do you get in touch with your inner feelings and translate them into a tangible image?

AT: I believe everything is connected to our deeper inside, the so-called “collective unconscious,” in Western culture. I try to hone my mind through my everyday life to connect with this place (the present), not only with the human collective unconscious but also with nature’s collective unconscious. Then the inspirations come.

LCJ: What does an average day in to be odious. But I think the peryour life look like? son who thought such a thing was AT: I read, meditate, think, and take odious themself. Nakedness itself care of my dog and cat. Sometimes I is natural and beautiful. And often, take traditional Japanese dance, sham- my nakedness means the concept isen (traditional Japanese guitar), and of the free spirit. yoga lessons. These lessons and such Previous: I know that just a kiss will are for my personal desire, as they extake me far away, 2006, Acrylic on plore the secrets of the universe which canvas ©️2006 Aya Takano/Kaikai is deeply connected with my artistic Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. inspirations.

Courtesy Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin, LCJ: Has quarantine changed the way you use art as a form of self expression? What have you learned about yourself during self-isolation and what are you most looking forward to post-pandemic?

AT: I don’t use art as a form of self expression; my work is like interim presentations of my space research.

But quarantine has made me focus on my work more; I learned what I really want is to think about the universe, paint, and draw during this period of time. I’m looking forward to visiting other countries, and people to come visit me from abroad again.

LCJ: Lastly, a lot of the time, your art features naked figures but in a surreal, beautiful, and magical sense. And as a Korean American, I understand that there is a shameful connotation that surrounds being in touch with your sensuality and further embracing womanhood in Asian culture. How do you come to creating these visions with such beauty and no indignity?

AT: I can’t understand what’s shameful about nakedness. I heard that a long time ago, like in the 18th century in the West, that piano feet had to be covered by a dust-preventing cloth, just because piano feet were thought

Paris & Miami

Noshi & Meg, on Earth, year 2036, 2002, Acrylic on canvas ©️2002 Aya Takano/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Courtesy NADiff, Tokyo

Floating in a Field of Primitive Life, 2014, Acrylic on canvas ©️2014 Aya Takano/ Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Thank you to Ms. Aya Takano for taking the time to converse with Lina. A special thank you to the wonderful Kaikai Kiki team for the most efficient, patient, and compassionate communication. Thank you for once again emphasizing that art knows no (language) barrier.

louisa renee choi

madeleine ray

lucy faulkner

cameron white

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