There’s little that Kyoko Imazu doesn’t do, dipping her toes into printmaking, papercutting, shadow puppetry, ceramic art, as well as installation and even bookbinding. But though varied, her aesthetic is fairly coherent, with a lot of her work featuring small animals and insects.
“I draw ideas and inspirations from memories and stories,” Imazu explained in an interview with OtherPeoplesPixels. “Similarly, I encourage viewers to bring their own memories and associations to my work. They can decide if it’s personal or political.”
Combining her own memories with the stories of the most overlooked inhabitants of planet Earth, Imazu presents a fanciful landscape that draws from history and mythology. Her etchings, artist books, and cut-paper installations are equally populated with real animals and legendary creatures from Japanese folklore.
“I like mixing real and mythical animals together because I love imagining what it was like to live in the world before all animals were named and categorized,” says Imazu, adding that there was a time when rhinos were as fantastical as unicorns.
Born in Japan and currently living and working in Melbourne, her work is showcased around the globe. But you can also follow her creative journey online, via Instagram.
