![]() ![]() They’re very independent identities they’re not conforming to a particular identity that has been accepted in folklore and mythologies.” “That we celebrate the diversity, we celebrate the idiosyncrasies. “I hope these characters are a reflection of who we can become,” Miki said. She said that her bi-cultural identity is a driving force behind her art and that she wants her work to promote inclusivity. Miki was born in Japan, but the Bay Area of California has been her home for more than 20 years. LPM From left: "Mirror Sticky Rice Shapeshifter” and "Matsuno-ki Yokai (animated pine tree)” by Masako Miki, which are currently showing in “Shapeshifting," at the KMAC Museum. “My curatorial assistant, Anna Blake, and I are always trying to find ways to utilize and present the collection, particularly in context with some of the guest artists we bring in,” Yates said. KMAC Curatorial Director Joey Yates said that the museum is always trying to find interesting ways to show pieces in the collection. There’s even an entire room dedicated to the devil. It features art from Simone Leigh, Kathleen Lolley and others. “Spirits In The Material World” - which shares a floor with and closes the same day as “Shapeshifting” - covers several genres and time periods. ![]() 6, also has a sibling exhibition called “Spirits In The Material World,” which features pieces from the museum’s collection that correlate with Miki’s theme of spirits and celestial beings throughout mythology. ![]() “Shapeshifting,” which will be at KMAC until Sunday, Aug. We have too many of these manipulative myths that we need to get rid of, I think. ![]() “If you manipulate and communicate them well enough, people believe them, and this is a big part of us, bringing us together, but in a really negative cause. “It’s kind of fascinating how these fictions can drive entire countries, nations and the world,” Miki told LPM News. While the idea of mythology might bring to mind ancient heroes, spiritual parables or children’s stories, it’s also deeply intertwined with devastating aspects of society like violence, racism, sexism, homophobia and xenophobia.įundamentally, Miki uses her work to ask the question: If traditional myths are harmful, why don’t we update them, or create new ones? The exhibition also examines mythmaking’s impact at large. The stories surrounding “Night Parade” have been told and interpreted in many ways for hundreds of years, but Miki’s characters, which she calls “incomplete deities,” represent those who have been marginalized. The intricate meaning behind the exhibition will leave you thinking about the things that society believes - possibly the things that you believe - for days.įor each sculpture, Miki invents a character based on the motifs of “Night Parade of One Hundred Demons,” a prominent piece of Japanese folklore in which supernatural creatures march through the streets. The surreal sculptures blend the contours of people, plants and animals with the aesthetics of inanimate objects using bright color schemes and playful elements like polka dots. The pieces in “Shapeshifting”- which is currently showing at KMAC Contemporary Art Museum - almost look like pop-art furniture, and wouldn’t be out of place in a mid-century modern home. They invite the viewer to dive deep into how mythmaking has twisted the world’s narratives, shaping human behavior and impacting history. Miki’s vibrant felt sculptures in the exhibition “Shapeshifting” are warm and welcoming. ![]()
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