Mariko Mori facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mariko Mori
森 万里子 |
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Mariko Mori at the Japan Society Panel on Art & Nature on 2010
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| Born |
森 万里子
February 21, 1967 Tokyo, Japan
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| Nationality | Japanese |
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| Known for | Photography, Digital art, Sculpture |
| Movement | Contemporary Art, Pop Art, Environmental Art |
Mariko Mori (森 万里子, Mori Mariko) was born in Japan in 1967. She is a Japanese artist who works with many different types of art. She is well-known for her photos and videos. In these, she often shows herself as futuristic characters. These characters often combine old Japanese ideas with new technology. Her art often looks at themes like technology, spirituality, and moving beyond normal life.
In 2010, she started the Faou Foundation. This is a non-profit group that creates art.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Mariko Mori was born in Tokyo, Japan, in 1967. She grew up in a wealthy family. Her father was an inventor and technician. Her mother studied European art history.
In the late 1980s, Mori studied at Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo. During this time, she also worked as a fashion model. In 1989, she moved to London to study art. She went to the Byam Shaw School of Art. Then she studied at the Chelsea College of Art and Design. She finished her studies there in 1992. After graduating, she moved to New York City. There, she joined a special art program at the Whitney Museum of American Art.
Mariko Mori's Art Career
Mori's early art often used ideas from traditional Japanese culture. It also looked at ancient history. But her art always had a futuristic feel. Her early photos were greatly influenced by cosplay. Cosplay is when people dress up as characters from movies, books, or games.
In her videos and photos, Mori often dressed up in her own costumes. She played characters like fantastic gods, robots, aliens, and spaceships. Throughout her career, she has been fascinated by technology and spirituality. She sees technology as a way to change our minds and ourselves.
Her early works often showed female characters in traditional roles. For example, she was a waitress in Tea Ceremony (1995). She was a futuristic version of a Buddhist goddess in Pure Land (1996-1998). She also played a Japanese pop star in Birth of a Star.
Mori often mixes Eastern myths with Western culture in her art. She does this by layering photos and digital images. An example is her 1995 artwork Birth of a Star. Later works, like Nirvana, show her as a goddess. Here, she moves beyond her earlier roles using technology and images. She also moves from city scenes to more alien landscapes.
At the 47th Venice Biennale in 1997, Mori showed two artworks. One was a photo collage called Empty Dream (1995). It was shown in the Japanese Pavilion. The other was a 3-D video artwork called Nirvana (1997). This was shown in the Nordic Pavilion.
Mori's art is displayed in many public museums. These include the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Her work is also at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, and other places.
Famous Artworks
Play With Me (1994)
In this artwork, Mori dressed up as a cyborg. She had light blue hair in long ponytails. She wore a metallic blue top, silver gloves, and a dress. She stood outside a toy store in Tokyo. Her outfit looked similar to the toys sold inside. People entering the store seemed to ignore her.
Subway (1994)
Mori stood in a Tokyo subway car. She was dressed as if she had just arrived from outer space. She wore a silver metallic costume. It had a headset, microphone, and buttons on her arm. This artwork, like Play With Me, explored different made-up identities.
Empty Dream (1995)
Mori changed a photo of a real public swimming pool. She added herself into the scene in several places. She wore a blue plastic mermaid costume. This artwork talks about the rise of technology. It also touches on ideas about how humans might be created through new science. This work was shown at the 47th Venice Biennale in 1997.
Oneness (2003)
Oneness was first shown in New York in 2003. It is also the name for a group of six alien sculptures. They are made from a soft, skin-like material. The sculptures hold hands in a circle. They light up when a person touches or hugs them. Oneness explores spirituality, photography, and fashion. It shows Mori's skill in using new technology.
Part of Oneness is the Wave-UFO. This is a large dome weighing 6,000 kg. Inside, visitors can see projected paintings. These paintings were changed with computers and then turned into photos. Mori developed the Wave-UFO while working at the Eyebeam Art+Technology Center in New York.
Rebirth
Rebirth is an exhibition of Mori's works from several years. It was first shown in London in 2012. Then it came to New York City in 2013. This collection is different from her earlier work. It uses fewer modern media and influences.
One example in this collection is Flat Stones (2006). This is a group of ceramic rocks. They are arranged like an ancient Japanese archaeological site. Mori also found ideas from old Celtic practices. This includes the stone circles in her Transcircle 1.1 (2004). This work has LED-lit columns that change color. Mori's interest in ancient cultures comes from her search for shared human values.
Faou Foundation
In 2010, Mori started the Faou Foundation. The word "faou" was created by Mori. It means "creative force." Mori is the founder and president of this group. The Faou Foundation is inspired by Buddhism and nature. Its goal is to create six art projects around the world. These projects will honor the natural environment of each place.
So far, the Faou Foundation has completed two of its six planned projects:
- Primal Rhythm: This project was first shown in 2011. It is on Miyako Island, Okinawa, Japan. It has two large sculptures:
- Sun Pillar: This column is 4.2 meters tall and weighs 2.9 tons. It sits on a rocky point. It reflects the colors of the sea and sky. It casts a shadow across the bay every winter solstice.
- Moon Stone: This is a clear sphere that changes color with the ocean tides.
On the winter solstice each year, the shadow of the Sun Pillar reaches the Moon Stone. Mori says this is "a ceremonial emblem of eternal rebirth for all living things."
- Ring: One with Nature: This project was first shown in August 2016. It is a giant acrylic ring. It weighs 2 tons and is 3 meters wide. It is permanently placed on top of a waterfall called "Véu da Noiva." This waterfall is in Cunhambebe State Park, Brazil. The ring's color changes with the sun. It goes from shades of blue to gold.
Awards and Honors
- 1997 – Menzione d’onore, for her work Nirvana (1997), Venice Biennale
- 2001 – 8th Annual Award as a "Promising Artist and Scholar in the Field of Contemporary Japanese Art", Japan Cultural Arts Foundation
See also
In Spanish: Mariko Mori para niños
