Dissonance is an installation art. It consists of the series of 9 dolls. The work is flexible to fit the space and dimensions available in an assigned gallery spot.
It has been exhibited at Nocturnal Reflection at Atrium Artspace in June-July, Hands of the Artists in Area 405 in September, and (un)Alter(ed) Ego in Bogus Gallery in October to November in the Station North Arts District in 2025.
This series of dolls is inspired by Ayatori (あやとり）and Kinbaku (緊縛）.
Ayatori is a traditional children’s game in which a loop of string is manipulated around the fingers to create a sequence of shapes. In English, it is known as cat’s cradle.
Kinbaku, which translates to “tight binding,” is a Japanese style of rope work that uses simple yet visually intricate patterns. I was introduced to Kinbaku through friends I met recently, and it gradually became a point of artistic curiosity for me.
In April 2025, the Lazarus Center at MICA screened the Japanese documentary Japanese Avant Garde Pioneers, directed by Amélie Ravalec. There, I learned that Kinbaku is now regarded as a form of Avant Garde art. This led me to research its history and the evolution of this practice.
In creating Dissonance, I removed the erotic associations of Kinbaku and instead incorporated structural techniques drawn from Ayatori.
The red, blue, and white yarns represent America. Through this work, I wanted to express my struggle against the stereotypes often placed on Asian women in the United States—stereotypes that attempt to dictate how one should behave or think. Although we are taught that stereotyping is discriminatory, its impact persists. This installation also reflects my acclimation process as a Japanese immigrant, navigating language and cultural transitions, negotiating the suppression of aspects of my Japanese identity, and forging a fusion of American and Japanese cultural heritage within myself.
The process was filled with struggle and turmoil, but it ultimately strengthened me. What once felt restrictive and oppressive has transformed into a source of support—the very structure that sustains me today.
Photo courtesy of Desmond Johnson @picturesofusdotnet
