Kaori Someya b. 1977

Tagasode, meaning “whose sleeves?”, was a popular theme during the Edo period (1603–1868). The motif—an uninhabited kimono mounted on a hanging rack—is derived from old love poems and describes an absent woman whose scent still lingers on the robes she left behind. Someya finds this theme to be deeply representative of Japanese culture and often features tagasode in her work. Someya frequently reflects on isolation and the struggles of women in a changing contemporary Japanese society. A fleeting bird may point towards a woman's pursuit of greater things and her endurance as she navigates life’s challenges.