Original works
Combat: Manual for daily survival, 16 X22 CM - 92 X120CM , I.D. photograph, transferred manually on printed textiles stretched on canvas, unique piece, 2003-2007 , Most pieces are sold and in private collections
Combat: Manual for Daily Survival is an evolving interdisciplinary project that explores personal identities in both physical and psychological social environments. Starting with a photography-based performance in an ID photo booth, participants use hand gestures to symbolize survival tools. These portraits are transformed into graphic black-and-white images, reflecting the tension between individual identity and the social environment. The images are then transferred manually onto textiles, creating unique pieces that symbolize these environments. The project invites the audience to contribute to a collective survival manual, reflecting the interplay between personal identity and society
Exhibition
Mac Creteil, France
Combat: Manual for daily survival, Exhibition & Installation at Mac ( Maison des Arts au Creteil ), Cretail, France, quotation, original work, video, November 2008-January 2009
Combat was seen in various exhibitions, with the largest solo show taking place at the MAC Créteil. The exhibition occupied multiple floors of the art center, with each space thoughtfully curated. I included quotations from thinkers like Camus, Bergman, and others, which connected to the underlying themes of the project, deepening its exploration of human resilience.
educational residency
Lycée Édouard Branly, Chatellerault, France
Educational residencies are my most collaborative projects. At Lycée Branly, students took the initiative—designing and printing silk-screened t-shirts, wearing each other's designs, and hosting a dance battle. Teachers independently proposed my installation project to the school and installed large-format images at the building's entrance, where they still remain (Lycée Branly). Students also created a postcard to raise funds for the Tohoku earthquake crisis in Japan, fully embracing the project as their own. I am truly impressed by what we achieved together. Our project contained film photography at the basis. If you would like to see further : Writing of the light.
Happening & Projection
Combat in progress, City hall, third district, Paris, France
Combat in Progress began with 108 portraits created during a happening at my local Paris city hall, involving people from my neighborhood. Using textiles sourced locally, the project focused on found materials and short interview responses. The final work was showcased during Nuit Blanche 2008 on a large screen at Paris' 3rd City Hall and later at MAC Créteil. Additional Combat sessions were held in various locations, including high schools in France and Hawai'i, with one session consisting of over 125 students. The project has also been incorporated into art education programs in France and
the UK.
Video
Combat in progress, City hall, third district, Paris, France
Combat in Progress was created for the 4m x 3m screen during Nuit Blanche 2008. The video features 108 participants describing daily actions in French, Japanese, and English. It highlights various stages of the work, including color photos, black-and-white graphics, and textile transfers. Projected throughout the night at Paris' 3rd City Hall, it offered an immersive experience for viewers.
The Combat video is my first attempt at video making, created with my 3-year-old son. It explores our connection through hand gestures and both English and Japanese. The second part highlights the eye as a bridge to life and conveys the idea of patience, symbolized by the concept of sitting on a rock for 10 years.
original photographs
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All photographs were taken in an I.D. photo booth for its common use and to emphasize the idea that the subjects are their own photographers, capturing unpredictable moments as the photographs are taken.