Aiko Hayashi: Art in Flux

In Kyoto, 2048, artist Aiko Hayashi stood before her canvas with iridescent eyes, a temporary shift bestowed by the latest gene-editing art fad. Her existence was a fusion of culture and cutting-edge science—brushstrokes reflective of her augmented vision danced across the silk. The once rare technique of epigenome editing now allowed her to alter perceptions, weaving emotion into every piece. Yet, with each change, Aiko pondered permanence versus ephemerality, the essence of true art. As the eyes returned to brown, she embraced her legacy: bridging ancient Japan with future innovation, finding beauty in both transformation and the unaltered.