青幻舎 SEIGENSHA Art Publishing

Tomoko Sawada is active internationally as a photographer working in the genre of the self-portrait. This book contains a pair of contrasting works titled cover and Decoration. Through the unique Japanese street fashion styles of kogal and gothic Lolita, Sawada explores the interrelationship of outer image and inner life, the theme that underlies all of her work.

In cover, Sawada disguises herself as a kogal (teenager) in ganguro makeup* (2002). Decoration is a work that was born from a solo exhibition at the Joan Miro Foundation (Barcelona, 2008).
*The ganguro look is characterized by bleached hair, over-tanned skin, and lavish makeup.

“Tomoko, you just keep getting more beautiful and lovely! Whether you’re a gal or a Lolita, I’ll follow you anywhere.” --Kishin Shinoyama

Profile
Tomoko Sawada
Born in 1977. Sawada’s debut work ID400 received the Honorable Mention Award at the 2000 Canon New Cosmos of Photography, the 2004 Kimura Ihei Memorial Photography Award, and the Twentieth Annual ICP Infinity Award for Young Photographers from the New York International Center of Photography.
Exhibitions of Sawada’s work are held throughout the world including in New York, London, France, and Spain.

Principle works
ID400, OMIAI, School Days

List of Exhibitions
cover
2008 IDENTITATS: Joan Miro Foundation (Barcelona)
2004 The 29th Kimura Ihei Award Winner Exhibition Costume ＋ cover: Konica Minolta Plaza (Tokyo)
2002 SUMISO: Osaka
2001 COVER: Osaka

Decoration
2013 ＤＯＭＡＮＩ: The National Art Center, Tokyo
2011 REFLECTION: Rose Gallery (Santa Monica, California, USA)
2009 SAWADA TOMOKO & BABY, THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT: Parabolica-bis (Tokyo)
2008 Decoration: colette (Paris)
The 24th Higashikawa Award Winners Exhibition: Higashikawa Culture Gallery (Hokkaido)
Decoration: Zabriskie Gallery (New York)
IDENTITATS: Joan Miro Foundation (Barcelona)