Masako Miki

Through brightly colored, felt sculptures and watercolor paintings, Masako Miki creates abstracted figures that draw inspiration from Japanese traditions of Shinto beliefs, specifically yōkai (shapeshifters), deities, or preternatural creaturesthat disguise themselves into many forms. She references the Japanese folklore of Hyakki Yagyō (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons), ghosts, and shapeshifters that parade during the night. Some are known as Tsukumo-Gami, shapeshifters of rejected aged tools, or everyday household objects that become animated only in the late hours of the day, advocating for their existence after being unwanted. For the artist, these ancient narratives of spirits serve as a metaphor to explore our imaginations, blurring boundaries and questioning the very myths that guide our daily lives. Miki shares, “Because of their unique characteristics, they do not conform to accepted identities; instead, they generate new ones."