Shadow Works consisted of elements that depicted the indoors and outdoors of a house.
The recurring motif of these works was an Islamic courtyard called a “Patio”. The term “Shadow Works”, was coined by the historian, Ivan Illich, and refers to the state of women’s housework, specifically, the unpaid wages for their labor, as well as their unvalued social positions. I have no intention of conveying superficial messages such as demanding the unpaid wages, or the return to the social position women had in primitive times. In my view, a new social system will be established, and again in the future, in that new society there will still be people living as “shadows”. My purpose is to focus on the people who are considered as “shadows”. The reason for focusing on these people is that if these shadows do exist, this means that they exist within society. I would especially like my work to reflect the social problems and would strive to do so by working to understand the facts and by communicating with people.
1.The Patio
1998
shadow picture (light, paper)
200×500cm
Installation at the KEY Gallery, Tokyo
2.Patio
2010
cut paper, light
11×8 ft (225X244cm)
Installation at the L2kontemporary, Los Angeles