AIFA was created with the aim of exhibiting and promoting the work of contemporary Japanese artists in Switzerland. For Asia NOW 2024, AIFA presents the work of Japanese artist Yoichiro Otani who aims to challenge the traditional textual interpretation of kanji.

Otani redefines the usage of kanji’s ancestral characters and provides a new way of looking at the Japanese traditional writing system. The choice of kanji, a form of writing known for its complex and varied characters, allows the artist to transcend the traditional physicality of calligraphy. Using algorithms to arrange selected characters in scenes that evoke natural elements such as mountains or rain, Otani creates landscapes that are not only visual but also deeply poetic.
His works integrate layers of meaning that resonate deeply on both artistic and semantic levels.