Biography:

ARTIST STATEMENT:
Growing up in Tokyo, Japan, it was not necessary to see myself as an individual unique woman because blending in with others gains security within the society. Therefore, when I came to America, I did not know what kind of person I really was. By the experiences of being in a different culture, I have started to realize the existence of "myself" more clearly. Throughout this experience, I began to develop my own ideas of life. "Happiness and harmony in life comes from the recognition of individual differences and the sharing of good hearts and thoughts." In everyday life, we are influenced by each other without knowing it. This is what my artwork is about.

Many cultures have applied gold leaf to pictures. It came to Japan from China and Korea along with the Buddhist faith and the painting of icons. In the sixteenth century, Japan developed its own unique styles and techniques, especially in secular painting. This is the style I use in my work today. As the modern artist I begin my work by computer manipulation, collaging, and the printing of images. I then return to the formal art techniques of painting and gold leafing to complete my work. In my work I bring together old and new icons and images from American and Japanese culture. These combination of images represent the history of two cultures as well as my personal thoughts about the world I have experiencing.

In the middle of rapid globalization, I would like to share my passion, experiences, and visions of experiencing different cultures through my artwork, and perhaps to make the world more aware of what we are and the times we live in.