Keep an eye shut by Hanayo

Only 1 copy of this sold-out title

Hanayo’s journey as an artist unfolds in fascinating layers, each one deeply intertwined with the cultural and historical moments she inhabited. Born in 1970, a year that marked Japan’s global aspirations with the Osaka Expo, her life reflects a continuous engagement with movement—across geographies, disciplines, and identities. From her early experiments with zines in Tokyo to her decision to train as a geisha in Mukojima, Hanayo embraced the interplay of tradition and innovation, carving out a path uniquely her own.

Her photographic work, which began with Hanayome, carries a distinct sense of intimacy and surrealism. The images, taken with an Olympus Pen camera inherited from her father, juxtapose everyday objects—vintage toys, kokeshi dolls, and statues—with urban backdrops. Critics have often highlighted her ability to blur boundaries, both aesthetically and conceptually, creating a dialogue between nostalgia and contemporaneity. These works are not static representations but rather act as encounters, moments that bridge personal memory with collective histories.

As Hanayo’s practice evolved, so too did her subject matter. The birth of her daughter Tenko marked a turning point, introducing a narrative of relationships and time into her photographs. Later works, such as Magma, capture fleeting yet profound moments from her life in Berlin and Tokyo. Here, the lens becomes a witness to her surroundings, creating a chronicle of intimacy and transformation. The personal and the universal intersect, reflecting her constant engagement with the spaces she inhabits.

Hanayo’s art, much like her life, resists easy categorization. Whether through her participation in seminal exhibitions like Cities on the Move or her immersive performances at Palais de Tokyo, her work transcends mediums and contexts. It is this fluidity—this refusal to be pinned down—that defines her practice. Her images, installations, and performances become an ongoing conversation, an open-ended exploration of identity, culture, and the passage of time.