The world of Mika Ninagawa is in kitsch neon palette. Her beauty is loud and in-your-face, so forwardly forceful that it one may shy away from. Her consistent use of nostalgic Japanese elements, (She is a self-claimed PR for Takarazuka Revue, a all-girl theatre established in 1913; ‘Sakuran’, the first feature film produced by Ninagawa is set in Edo period) floral in full bloom, (she spent three years photographing flowers for her photography title ‘Acid Bloom’) and multi-colour goldfish (She took images of them in various places such as Shanghai, Hong Kong and Thailand).
Born in 1972, Mika Ninagawa won numerous awards such as ‘Kimura Ihei Photography Award’ (2001) and ‘Ohara Museum of Art Prize’ (2006); published over forty titles; exhibited worldwide over fifty shows including colette in Paris; ‘Sakuran’ was shown official as part of 31st Hong Kong International Film Festival and the Berlinale Special section of the 57th Berlin International Film Festival. Previously collaborated with Celine and Issey Miyake, her has just completed the latest collaboration project ‘Mika loves Shu’ for Christmas time. Ninagawa’s signature floral and goldfish in acid colour crawling all over the packaging, sheltering the beauty potion within. The collection is just as her book’s title ‘Everlasting Flowers’ — extract the dazzling beauty from its withering moment, magnify to its biggest possible extent and keep the moment to last forever.
Text: Carmen Lee | Translation: dilettante | Photo: Kimio Ng | Photo Courtesy: Shu Uemura
Update: 13 Nov 2008
MIKA LOVES SHU
Available in all Shu Uemura boutiques and counters on 14th Nov 2008.
