Artwork Description
Aquarius- Pink Stencil 10-Color Silkscreen Limited Edition Print Art on Fine Art Paper by Artist Aiko Contemporary Pop Artwork.
2019 Signed & Numbered Hand Stenciled Limited Edition of 35 Artwork Size 20x24
"Since this project is to help people who are suffering from water in Flint, I wanted to use this image of a girl with spirit of water. Like the angel of water; she is chilling in the glass of water. Water should be free and clean for everyone, we are all part of nature. I was working on this print throughout February hand coloring one by one, and it was period of Aquarius, zodiac sign, which is the symbol of the water server. I also discovered that the word Aquarius actually referred to the public water system in ancient Rome. When I discovered what happened with the Flint Water Crisis I couldn’t believe that it was happening now, and I am very furious about how government cannot do anything with it. Shame, why people in ancient times were able to provide clean water to everyone but not in Michigan in 2018?" - Aiko
Aquarius – Pink by Aiko: Spirit of Water in Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork
Aquarius – Pink is a 2019 hand-stenciled, multi-layered silkscreen print by Japanese-born contemporary artist Aiko, widely celebrated for her bold compositions blending femininity, rebellion, and cultural iconography. This limited edition of only 35 works is sized at 20 x 24 inches and printed on fine art paper using a combination of silkscreen techniques and hand-applied stencil coloring. Each print was uniquely touched by the artist, giving every piece an intimate sense of authorship and visual variation. The artwork was created to raise awareness and support for the Flint water crisis, linking Aiko’s vibrant aesthetic with a cause rooted in real human urgency and environmental justice.
Visual Symbolism and Composition
At the center of the composition is a stylized nude female figure, rendered with sharp lines and vivid color, lounging gracefully inside a glass of water. The woman wears a butterfly mask, an Aiko hallmark, symbolizing transformation and delicate strength. Her body appears relaxed, cradled by crystalline water and immersed in heart motifs and stenciled flora that float gently around her. This symbolic guardian of water evokes a divine or mythological presence, a visual nod to both natural elements and spiritual caretakers. Behind her, a large heart-shaped frame and scattered motifs recall both urban muralism and the layered complexity of traditional Japanese woodblock printing, affirming Aiko’s cross-cultural fluency.
Hand-Crafted Detail and Political Resonance
Each print in the edition was carefully hand-colored by Aiko over the course of February 2019. This choice was intentional, aligning the creative process with the astrological season of Aquarius, the water bearer. Aiko’s connection between ancient Rome’s aqueducts and modern water crises further reinforces the historical irony and injustice embedded in the Flint situation. She channels her rage and disbelief through the aesthetics of joy, sensuality, and beauty—a visual protest cloaked in sweetness. The layering of stenciled color, from fluorescent hearts to pastel butterflies, emphasizes the duality between artistic beauty and societal failure.
Aiko’s Influence in Contemporary Graffiti and Feminist Expression
Lady Aiko, also known as Aiko Nakagawa, is a globally respected figure in the Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork world. Her visual language merges influences from Japanese manga, Western pop art, feminist iconography, and urban stencil tradition. Through Aquarius – Pink, she not only reinforces her mastery of the silkscreen process but also uses her platform to speak to systemic issues. This artwork is not merely decorative—it is activist-driven, balancing delicacy with confrontation. The edition’s focus on clean water access, female empowerment, and historical reflection encapsulates Aiko’s ability to transform cultural critique into layered visual storytelling. Aquarius – Pink remains a testament to the power of art to inspire awareness and emotional connection in the face of environmental and political failure.
