Hikari Shimoda paints starry-eyed children that are an unnerving mixture of cuteness and horror. Dressed in superhero costumes or fashionable attire, they remind of anime characters, but ones that are the result of an imagined dystopian reality. Through these anti-heroes, Shimoda hopes to shed light upon modern-day struggles,
A juxtaposition of brushwork, text, and collage, her work is very much inspired by Japanese manga and anime aesthetic. “Many people are now familiar with kawaii or Japanese ‘cute,’” she told WOW x WOW. “I am interested in cuteness as an artistic tool. I deal with very serious and negative themes in my work. It takes a lot of bravery to face what scares us, or disgusts us, whatever is causing negativity in our lives.”
Through a combination of motifs, that show up throughout her work, she hopes to create a sort of universal language – communicating her artwork to a wide range of audiences. “I want my work to be understood based purely on the image itself, without looking at explanations or translations,” she says.
Based in Nagano, Japan, Shimoda has exhibited her work in galleries around the world, including Japan, the United States, Canada, and Europe. But you can also follow her on Instagram.
