Within my artistic practice, I delve into the nuanced realms of identity, memory, heritage, and the perpetual quest for a sense of belonging. As a woman of dual nationality, my journey unfolds as a narrative of being half Japanese and half English, raised in the cultural tapestry of England. My work serves as a visual exploration of the intersections between my two worlds, drawing inspiration from traditional Japanese Ukiyo-E 浮世絵 printmaking and the rich patterns of period British textiles
The motifs, patterns, and colour palette in my pieces reflect the fusion of my heritage – juxtaposing the muted greens and earthy tones of British influence with the prismatic crimson inspired by Japanese aesthetics. My gaze at Japanese culture is filtered through a Western lens, while I approach British culture from the perspective of an outsider. The emotional complexity of existing in an imagined space between these two worlds, where I feel like I don’t truly belong to either, is a central theme in my practice
My artistic objective is to bridge these disparate worlds in a way that resonates personally. I achieve this by appropriating traditional Japanese and British iconography, intertwining them with memories and objects collected from my dual-cultural upbringing. Layers are fundamental to my work, mirroring the mismatch of cultures, emotions, and memories that have shaped my life in England and Japan
Utilising a diverse range of media – including copperplate etching, aquatint, relief print, painting, drawing, and embroidery – I both reveal and conceal my feelings of displacement and belonging, through depicting cultural objects that represent memories from my British and Japanese family with sentimentality and a subtle sense of humour
One notable project, Ki(nai)mono 着(ない)物, emphasises the theme of adornment. It manifests not only in the intricate patterns adorning the garment through layers of painting, printing, etching, and embroidery but also in the act of adorning the body when the kimono is worn
My artistic journey is an ongoing exploration of self-discovery, cultural entanglements, and the intricate beauty found in the layers that define our identities