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SAKI SONODA

🎨 Painting
🐾 Interactive Art
🗽 Sculpture/Three-dimensional Art

Statement

My current work explores beings that were considered to exist on the fringe of pre-modern society, especially during festive moments, through traditional Japanese perspectives and religious sensitivities. This project consists of two main components. The first involves oil paintings that depict the backstage spaces of nocturnal performers in Brooklyn’s vibrant nightlife. By capturing their green rooms, I reflect on the duality of performance and the unseen moments, where bodies that are celebrated on stage are also commodified and transformed in private.

The second component reimagines inhuman beings known as “Mononoke” from Japanese folklore, bringing them into contemporary society through a glowing 3D installation. These fictional entities serve as metaphors for the invisible emotions and stories present in communal spaces. Through this interactive installation, I invite viewers to engage with their own emotional landscapes and reflect on their relationships with others.

My practice is driven by a pursuit of authenticity, and my work seeks to provoke contemplation, inspire new perspectives, and bridge the cultural influences that have shaped me—from traditional Japanese themes to the dynamic energy of Brooklyn’s art scene. By materializing the unseen, I aim to highlight the complexities of identity and human experience, encouraging viewers to find connections between themselves and the world around them.

Biography

Born in Japan and currently based in Brooklyn, Saki is an artist whose work seamlessly integrates cultural influences, drawing from an MFA in Western art from Joshibi University of Art and Design, along with a deep appreciation for both traditional and modern Japanese pop culture.

Her artistic practice encompasses painting, printmaking, and mixed media, with a history of participation in numerous group exhibitions, including notable shows at two public museums: the Machida City Museum of Graphic Arts in Japan and the Ningbo Museum of Art in China. Saki was also awarded a scholarship and residence by the Omura Foundation to study in Milan, where one of her pieces was acquired by the university and is now part of its permanent collection.

Before relocating to New York in 2016, Saki worked extensively in commercial art, designing stage sets and decor for high-profile events, including a promotion event for Lionsgate in Tokyo.

Since moving to New York, she continued to expand her practice, focusing on installations and earning multiple grants, including one from Burning Man and its communities.

Selected Exhibitions and Awards

  • 2008 Group Exhibition (Kanagawa, Japan)
  • 2008 Group Exhibition “Art Exhibition Fostered by Citizens” (Kanagawa, Japan)
  • 2008 Group Exhibition “Yokohama Rose Exhibition 2008: 13 new female artists” (Kanagawa, Japan)
  • 2008 Group Exhibition (Kanagawa, Japan)
  • 2009 Recipient of the Fumiko Omura Foundation Joshibi Milano Award in 2009 for a study abroad program in Italy
  • 2009 Group Exhibition “visual exhibition” (Kanagawa, Japan)
  • 2009 Group Exhibition (Kanagawa, Japan)
  • 2009 Group Exhibition “Yokohama’s future community” (Kanagawa, Japan)
  • 2009 Participated in the National University Print Exhibition at Machida City Museum of Graphic Arts (Tokyo, Japan)
  • 2010 Graduated from Joshibi University of Art and Design, having a work acquired by the university’s collection
  • 2011 Group Exhibition in gsgp Joshibi university art center (Kanagawa, Japan)
  • 2011 Group Exhibition (Tokyo, Japan)
  • 2011 Group Exhibition “Contemporary Japanese Artists Exhibition” in Ningbo Museum of Art (Zhejiang, China)
  • 2012 Group Exhibition (Tokyo, Japan)
  • 2012 Group Exhibition (Tokyo, Japan)
  • 2012 Master of Fine Arts (Printmaking Major), JOSHIBI UNIBERSITY OF ART AND DESIGN
  • 2015 Burning Man Art Grant for the Carnival of Mirrors Midway
  • 2017 POrtal Burn Art Grant
  • 2018 Kostume Kult Frontage at Burning Man
  • 2019 Kostume Kult Frontage at Burning Man
  • 2021 POrtal Burn Art Grant
  • 2022 Transformus Art Grant
  • 2022 NECTR Art Grant
  • 2022 Works exhibited at City of Gods (New York, USA)
  • 2024 “Who’s Afraid of Red, Yellow & Blue?” curated by Ellen Hackle Fagan at LiC-A (New York, USA)

Upcoming Exhibitions

  • 2024 "Greenroom – A Solo Exhibition by Saki Sonoda" at House of Yes (New York, USA)
  • 2024 "Offering" at The Ritual Division (New York, USA)

📧 Contact

© 2024 Saki Sonoda