The Angst of Youth in Contemporary Art Practice

The resurgence of the theme 'teenage angst' has become increasingly popular among contemporary artists, universally depicting aspects of alienation, loneliness, depression and even unrequited love. This paper will argue that Japanese manga and anime has become a major influencing factor in both Western and Eastern contemporary art practice as it bridges the gap between reality and fantasy. Arguably, this interface underlines how popular cultural imagery of the East, particularly Japan, has impacted upon both Eastern and Western artists worldwide. Masami Toku argues that Japanese manga allies' youth's identity construction with popular culture by creating an underlying narrative based on the interplay between fictional characters fantasising about their aspirations and desires, and echoing adolescent social rites of passage. My paper will reference and critically analyse the work of American artist Charlie White,Chinese artists Cao Fei and Chen Ke, and Japanese artist Aya Takano. It will show how, by adopting and reinterpreting this distinctive Japanese aesthetic, the artists create a reality that functions as a means of escape from socio-economic restraints while, at the same time, exploring other adult narratives in their work. It will highlight how childlike pictorial qualities provide an avenue for darker adult tropes to be investigated in a format more easily accepted by society.