ShojonoTomo ArtWorks

Profile

ShojonoTomo Profire Image

ShojonoTomo, literally meaning “Friend of Young Girls”, is a contemporary artist who embodies the spirit of the “Eternal Child”. She uses her unique perspective, imagination, and humor, along with impactful characters and colors, to create paintings, objects d’art, and interactive art, all over the world.

Established in 2004, her “SKINSHIP BURNY” (SKINSHIP meaning physical contact and BURNY meaning burn injury) concept, is an example of how ShojonoTomo wraps up the opposing concepts of strength hidden beneath the surface and delicateness in humorous stories.

Her work is a metaphor for “adult children”, children who grow up in dysfunctional families and struggle in the real world as adults. This phenomenon is a leading cause to juvenile delinquency and is also the driving force behind ShojonoTomo who is always in search of the meaning of her own existence.

Many of ShojonoTomo’s works are based on fashion motifs and are held at galleries that are easily accessible to those who are not necessarily well-versed in the art world. She was a resident artist at a Swedish museum from 2009 to 2011. Her work there was based on the theme of 753, a Japanese custom to celebrate children when they reach the ages of 3, 5, and 7. She constructed a room called “child play” and made kimonos (kimono fusion). In 2013, she designed the official logo and mascot for a COOL JAPAN event, called CRAZY KAWAII IN PARIS, and held a performance that featured Japanese rituals. The event was covered by media from all over the world. At the Edo-Tokyo Museum in 2014, she held a live show featuring a “DOUBLE T-SHIRT for 2 people”, the purpose of which was to allow Japanese people, who are uncomfortable with physical contact, to physically touch each other. Since 2015, ShojonoTomo has been putting on a production for NHK KAWAII International TV in New York and Japan called “Festival and Yukata Project” which addresses the theme of “Japanese people who do not date”.

ShojonoTomo’s recognition beyond the art community has been expanding overseas. This may be partly due to American rapper Nicki Minaj, who she designed costumes for from 2011 to 2013, rapping “Rockin’ ShojonoTomo” in the song, “Gimme Money”. Many people thought interpreted this as a reference to ShojonoTomo as a clothing designer. However she also designed Minaj a face mask, another Japanese symbol. She called it the “love allergy mask” and used it as a modern Japanese communication tool.
The face mask used for the costume was featured on a British tv program or reached the late David Bowie.

The Artwork

  • 1992

    1. Solo Exhibition WHITE 6 VIRUS at Gallery LA FENICE (JAPAN)
1992
  • 1993

    1. Animation / Internationale Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen (GERMANY)
1993
  • 1996

    1. Interactive event (Nozoki Mobile Telphone club / Kim Taku-nology)at UP LINK FACTORY (JAPAN)
  • 1996-1998

    1. “Siberia” magazine Japanese page serialization (UK)
1996
  • 1998

    1. National TV broadcast appearance (AUSTRIA)
1998
  • 2000.3

    1. Animation / NY UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL (USA)
2000
  • 2006.4

    1. BUNNY QEE EXHIBITION by TOY2R (HONG KONG)

    2006.5

    1. Fashion Collaboration with Shima Hair Show at Ebis Garden Holl (JAPAN)

    2006.6

    1. MODORRRA SHOW in Bilbao (SPAIN)

    2006.8

    1. Solo Exhibition at BEAMS GALLERY (JAPAN)
2006
  • 2007

    1. 「freiendly monster Alphabet picture book」Omnibus (AUSTRALIA)
2007
  • 2008.10

    1. Design Tide Tokyo at Theory Aoyama Bell Commons & Omotesando Hills (JAPAN)
2008
  • 2009.6

    1. Group Exhibition at La, Cocot (FRANCE)
  • 2009-2010

    1. "KIMONO FUSION" OSTASIATISKAMUSEET in Stockholm (SWEDEN)
2009
  • 2010-2011

    1. "KIMONO FUSION2" World Culture Museum in Gothenburg (SWEDEN)
  • 2010.9-10

    1. Group Exhibition (Idealistically Hypocritical 6) in Portland (USA)
  • 2010.11

    1. Performance Show (Action for marriage for socks that became only one) at Tokyu Hands Shibuya (JAPAN)
2010
  • 2011.6

    1. Toy Exhibition by toy2r (HONG KONG)
  • 2011.8

    1. "Crowded Teeth" exhibition at Munky King gallery in Los Angeles (USA)
  • 2011-2014

    1. Costume for Nicki Minaj (2011 MTV Video Music Awards by Nicki Minaj (USA) / New York Fashion Week by Nicki Minaj (USA) etc)
2011
  • 2012.4

    1. Group exhibition at Art Whino Gallery in Detroit (USA)
  • 2012.5

    1. MY LITTKE PONY exhibition by Hasbro's in Los Angeles (USA)
  • 2012.6

    1. Exhibition & pop up shop with ONCH MOVEMENT at royal / t in Los Angeles (USA)
  • 2012.10

    1. MY LITTLE PONY Project in New York (USA)
2012
  • 2013.5

    1. Fight For Your Right EXHIBITION in Los Angeles (USA)
    2. Young Art Taipei 2013 (TAIPEI)
  • 2013.9

    1. Cool japan event (Tokyo Crazy Kawaii Paris) (FRANCE)
  • 2013.11

    1. Fonzo custom toy exhibition in La (USA)
    2. Contemporary art exhibition in SPAIRL URUTORA (JAPAN)
2013
  • 2014.2

    1. Stage set for NHK WORD TV (JAPAN)
  • 2014.4

    1. Performance / Double-T-shirt Live Show at Edo Tokyo Museum (JAPAN)
  • 2014.6

    1. Who by Art vol.3 at Shibuya Seibu (JAPAN)
  • 2014.7

    1. HAND MADE KOREA (KOREA)
2014
  • 2015.3

    1. NEW CITY ART FAIR, Japanese Contemporary Art (USA)
  • 2015.8

    1. Solo Exhibition「Surnarara Y Sinaira N」TAV GALLERY (JAPAN)
  • 2015.12

    1. Contemporary art Exhibition in SPAIRL URUTORA by TAV GALLERY (JAPAN)
2015
  • 2016.2

    1. NEO Syunga Exhibition at Art Lab Tokyo (JAPAN)
2016
  • 2017.3

    1. NACKT (which is naked) EXHIBITION in Hamburg (GERMANY)
  • 2017.4

    1. HANAMI Exhibition at Gallery ZeinXeno (KOREA)
    2. SAKURA Exhibition in Bruxelles (BELGIUM)
  • 2017.10

    1. Solo Exhibition at KANAZAWA 21st CENTURY KOGEI FESTIVAL by GALLERY Rempah Rempah (JAPAN)
2017
  • 2018.8

    1. Performance / Live Show (YUKATA & MATSURI PROJECT) at ON-1 (JAPAN)
2018
  • 2019.2

    1. OUT SIDER’S Exhibition by STUDIO FLAT (JAPAN)
  • 2019.8

    1. HANABI Exhibition by Art LabTokyo (JAPAN)
2019
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