My practice centres on creating an imagined "other-less" future folklore, lending from concepts and visuals of Japanese superstitions, Shintoism, and the ancient Jomon period to build a world that embraces otherness. This fictional universe serves two purposes: it allows me to explore animistic values in worldbuilding and acts as a therapeutic process for navigating my emotional experiences as a mixed-race individual living in Japan.

Rooted in research and personal exploration, my work reflects the tension between identity and cultural homogeneity. By revisiting Japan’s ancient past and tapping into the myths and beliefs that shaped its worldview, I craft ideas that resonate with the emotional turbulence of feeling "othered" within the society I call home. Through this imagined folklore, I hope to envision new narratives where cultural boundaries dissolve, offering both personal healing and universal reflection.

2025 - A Gallery of Ones Own

Ethereal Maison Gallery

2025 - Growing Kinship: a series on tuning with plants, land, belonging workshop series

Chelsea College of Art and Design, in association with Marleen Boschen, Taey Iohe

2024 - Archival Bootcamp Residency

Trabajo Práctico, Valencia

2024 - Boundaries Group Exhibition

Outhouse Gallery, London

2022 - Time Passing Over the Land Group Exhibition

Avalon Café, London

2020-2023 - BA Fine Art

Chelsea College of Art and Design, UAL

saya hirayama