Namanari, 2025
Fabric, cardboard and photocard
160x210x100 cm

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The sculpture was inspired by 能面 (nō-men), the masks used in Japanese Noh theatre to represent different characters. I was particularly drawn to 般若 (Hannya) masks, which represent the gradual transformation of a woman into a vengeful demon through several distinct stages.
Among these, the mask known as 生成 (Namanari) portrays a woman in the midst of this transformation, with short horns beginning to sprout on her forehead. Unlike the fully realized Hannya, Namanari conveys a psychological state where lingering attachment to her husband still remains, making it a powerful expression of conflicted emotion and incomplete metamorphosis.


Artist’s comment
I have been experimenting with different fabrics and incorporating elements such as zippers and beads into my fabric sculptures, including the Nui Plush series.
Wanting to expand this work on a larger scale, I was delighted to have the opportunity to present this sculpture at asiangirlsclub’s shop in the vintage market at Brick Lane in September 2025. There, it is displayed alongside other Nui Plush and earlier small food sculptures, which are also available for sale.