Artist Asami Kiyokawa's solo exhibition "ADASTRIA Beauty Collection" by ASAMI KIYOKAWA will be held at Space O in Omotesando Hills from April 27th to May 6th.

Now in its 15th year, "Beauty Collection" is a series in which she photographs shining women who are active in society, such as actresses, models and musicians, and "collects" their inner selves and true selves by likening them to the habits of plants and animals. We spoke to her about her thoughts on this large-scale exhibition.



FASHION HEADLINE (hereinafter, FH): Please tell us what inspired you to start the "Beauty Collection" series.

Kiyokawa Asami (hereinafter, Kiyokawa):I've been working as a magazine model since I was 19, and while it may seem like a glamorous world at first glance, many women are troubled and have something troubling them. As a woman myself, I can see glimpses of that inner self. It all started with me thinking that the deep psychology of women, as living creatures, could be enough to make a work of art. At the time, I had just started making works of embroidery onto photographs, and when I tried sewing together the photographs, I felt like I could express the inner selves of those people, so I started collecting people.



FH: What kind of exhibition will it be this year marking the 15th anniversary of the series?

Kiyokawa:I think that now is the time to see the origins of "Beauty Collection," which has been running for 15 years. At the same time, a series called "Beauty + Collection" will begin in the June issue of the magazine "SPRiNG." In this age of diversity, we are aiming to target not only women, but also anyone whose lifestyle we find attractive. It is an updated version of "Beauty Collection," so to speak. We would like you to see the changes that have taken place. Specifically, we will be showcasing over 100 pieces, ranging from past works to the latest, including the latest works from "Beautiful Women Collection" and series that will be shown for the first time. 」 />

FH: For your latest work, you "collected" four people you're most interested in at the moment: KOM_I (Wednesday Campanella), Sugawara Koharu, Yuriyan Retriever, and Wada Akiko.

Kiyokawa:For "Beauty Collection," I wanted to turn something like an invisible shadow into an artwork. I asked these four people who have that shadow as energy, and who possess unrivaled strength and individuality as characters. I wanted to know what makes them shine, so I basically do a positive analysis. I find it interesting that the reasons for each person's brilliance are different, and I think that's why I've been able to continue creating these works for so long.

Beauty Collection: "Sugawara Koharu x Red-capped Bird of Paradise" and "Yuriyan Retriever x Veiled Chameleon" (both new works)
/ © Asami Kiyokawa


FH: What inspiration did you get from these unique women, who come in a wide range of ages?

Kiyokawa:For example, Wada Akiko has been at the forefront of the entertainment industry for over 50 years, surviving harsh times that sometimes felt like the Ice Age. I sense a maternal nature from her, like that of the Mother of the Earth. I was drawn to the fact that she has a dynamic presence, yet also has a feminine and delicate side, which is why I likened her to a woolly mammoth. The shoot was incredibly quick, and she was very engaging. I could tell she had captured the image I was trying to convey and approached the shoot with precision.


The rest of the interview is available on the Omotesando Hills website!
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