Inspiration comes from everywhere, proves makeup artist Ana Takahashi, who confesses her love for video games in the new issue of AnOther Magazine
This story is taken from the Autumn/Winter 2024 issue of AnOther Magazine:
“You’re so stimulated and your palms are sweating, but you want to go back for more – that’s when I know it’s a good video game. The game that has moved me the most is The Last of Us Part II. I love the intensity and emotion of it. And obviously the killing of zombies. I’m a huge zombie fan. I’m into that post-apocalyptic environment. It sounds a bit cringe but it’s the community aspect that I like, coming together to fix a problem or to save humanity. People think gaming is solitary but I think it’s the opposite.
“The Legend of Zelda had the most influence on me visually. Fantasy is so stimulating because you can do whatever you want, you don’t have to base it on real-life physics. There are these characters called Great Fairies and they look almost Galliano-esque. They have pale faces and fabulous, colourful eyeshadow, purple lipstick and weird eyebrows. I love that make-up can aid the narrative of the gameplay, and that narrative aspect of video games has made me approach shoots in a different way – it’s made me realise the importance of storytelling. Fashion can sometimes feel distant and elitist. If you implement a narrative it helps ground a fashion story and make it feel more relatable and fun.”
Ana Takahashi only needs a few well-placed strokes of her make-up brush to tell a whole story. For Paolina Russo’s debut runway show for Spring/Summer 2024, models were transformed into warriors with just two fine lines drawn downwards from their eyebrows. At Chopova Lowena Spring/Summer 2023, Takahashi’s pillowy, double heart-shaped lips became a social media sensation. While the make-up artist has an instinct for the small touches that create a striking impact, her portfolio also brims with bold and maximalist designs for clients including Miu Miu, Balenciaga and Byredo. Unconstrained by the conventional rules of beauty, Takahashi’s disruptive approach and masterful use of colour are combined to result in beautiful and surreal faces – at times spooky. All of this is fuelled by eclectic sources of inspiration – everything from the kabuki performers of her Japanese heritage to 90s rave kids and, of course, video games.
This story features in the Autumn/Winter 2024 issue of AnOther Magazine, which is on sale now. Order here.
