“Creating art is a way to reclaim ‘the me that I want,’ in contrast to the expectations placed on me during my time as a model.”
A Fusion of Heritage: Shademomo Iwasaki’s Artistic Origins
Shademomo Iwasaki, known affectionately as Momo, brings a singular vision to the art world, one deeply rooted in her distinctive cultural background. Born in Japan to a Ghanaian father and a Japanese mother, her life has been a journey through divergent cultural landscapes, one that she integrates masterfully into her art. For Iwasaki, a single cultural lens feels confining; her work reflects an ongoing exploration of hybridity, honoring the multiplicity of her heritage. Working with DigiAnaStudio, she collaborates with a team to merge cutting-edge digital components with traditional analog techniques, generating a visual dialogue that transcends both time and medium. This artistic approach mirrors the duality within her life experiences and cultural foundations, inviting audiences to perceive the interplay between differing artistic and cultural paradigms.
Her unique heritage fuels her practice, positioning Iwasaki at the forefront of digital-analog experimentation. By blending old and new methods, she reflects the complex interplay of her multicultural identity. Each piece of her work stands as a bridge between her Japanese-Ghanaian roots, a testament to her philosophy that identity is multifaceted and cannot be fully captured through a singular perspective. This collaborative spirit shapes her projects at DigiAnaStudio, as she merges digital futurism with analog artistry, an aesthetic choice that showcases her desire to make the old and the new converse seamlessly, much like her own blended background.
At the heart of Iwasaki’s creative process lies the concept of collaboration—not only with her team and fellow artists but also across time, technique, and cultural context. She believes that working alongside other artists, such as Seungjin Lee, DigiAnaStudio’s founder, nurtures her creativity and furthers her exploration of digital-analog fusion. Through Lee’s guidance and collaboration, Iwasaki discovered the potential of marrying traditional techniques with technological advancements, a hallmark that has defined her evolving portfolio and continues to challenge conventional perceptions of art.
Shademomo Iwasaki: From Modeling to Digital Artistry
Iwasaki’s journey to becoming an artist took a serendipitous path, starting with her initial aspirations in New York, where she aimed to build a career in modeling. However, a pivotal encounter with a friend who was an artist planted the seeds for her eventual foray into the world of art. Inspired by his encouragement to explore her “unique” self and by the limitless potential she saw in his work, Iwasaki’s perception of creative expression transformed. She soon began experimenting with different media, seeing art as a way to express her individuality—a form of storytelling that captured the nuances of her identity. This shift marked a turning point in her life, propelling her into a journey of artistic discovery and self-expression that has since defined her career.
As she moved further into the art world, Iwasaki found herself drawn to the intersection of digital aesthetics and physical art forms. At DigiAnaStudio, she developed a style that harmonizes glitch aesthetics, augmented reality, and digital distortions with tangible, analog materials such as fashion. This innovative blending reflects her personal narrative as someone navigating multiple cultural spheres, creating art that feels as dynamic and layered as her background. Each piece, whether digital or physical, becomes a testament to her journey and her desire to blur the lines between the real and the virtual.
Iwasaki’s work consistently gravitates toward the theme of identity, a powerful counter-narrative to her experience in modeling, where external expectations often defined her image. Her art, in contrast, is a reclamation of self—a way to assert “the me that I want,” as she describes it. Through fashion, painting, and performance, she tackles questions of self and societal norms, using her art to challenge and redefine concepts of identity. Iwasaki’s creations merge personal history with technological experimentation, allowing her to confront and explore her own perceptions while engaging audiences in this discourse.
Merging Digital and Analog Worlds: Iwasaki’s Distinct Artistic Style
Iwasaki’s style reflects a balance between digital innovation and analog charm, creating a visual language that is at once futuristic and nostalgic. Drawing heavily from her work with DigiAnaStudio, she employs glitch art and augmented reality to craft surreal, immersive experiences that bridge the digital-physical divide. This integration of technology allows Iwasaki to explore the ephemeral nature of identity in the digital age while also honoring the tactile, hands-on aspects of traditional art. By weaving together glitch aesthetics with tangible media, her pieces invite viewers to question the nature of reality and perception, blurring the boundaries between these seemingly opposing realms.
A standout example of this digital-analog convergence was her performance at the 2023 Chashama Gala, where Iwasaki wore a dress adorned with icons representing smartphone applications. This symbolic outfit encapsulated the complex interplay between human existence and digital life, exploring how deeply technology influences daily interactions and identity. The performance was a transformative moment for Iwasaki, as it marked her first major live event, exposing her to the energy of a responsive audience. This interaction gave her an immediate sense of how her work resonates with others, fortifying her commitment to exploring the fusion of technology, art, and personal experience.
Her style continues to evolve as she integrates diverse media, adapting both digital and analog components to suit her creative vision. This fusion of materials and mediums reflects her multicultural identity, each piece a testament to her journey of self-discovery. Iwasaki’s work at DigiAnaStudio allows her to remain at the cutting edge of art and technology, creating a dialogue between the familiar and the unknown. Her exploration of this interface fosters a sense of belonging in multiple spaces, making her work a powerful reflection of her hybrid identity.
Shademomo Iwasaki: Navigating Influence, Inspiration, and Future Aspirations
Iwasaki’s artistic philosophy and style have been deeply influenced by Seungjin Lee, her collaborator at DigiAnaStudio. Lee’s creative approach, characterized by a unique blend of technological and artistic elements, has had a profound impact on Iwasaki. His guidance introduced her to a world where digital elements could coexist harmoniously with analog art forms. Observing Lee’s innovative spirit continually inspires her; she admires his ability to develop and evolve the DigiAna aesthetic, which challenges the conventional boundaries of artistic expression. His influence has driven her to think more critically about her practice, encouraging her to take risks and explore uncharted creative territories.
Her artistic workspace reflects her need for freedom and authenticity, values that stand in stark contrast to her experiences in modeling. No longer confined by others’ expectations, she has created an environment that encourages experimentation and self-expression, balancing digital and analog elements. This setting allows her to dive into her creative process without distractions, staying focused on creating meaningful work that resonates with her own sense of self. Maintaining this sense of clarity has been crucial in navigating a field where artists are often pressured to conform to trends, and her workspace serves as a refuge for pursuing her artistic truth.
Looking to the future, Iwasaki envisions pushing her work to new levels, inspired by the constant evolution of technology and its potential in art. She acknowledges the challenge of standing out in a fast-paced, technology-driven world, but she remains dedicated to forging her own path. For Iwasaki, staying true to her individuality is paramount, even as she explores new mediums and techniques. As her journey unfolds, she is committed to developing projects that resonate with her story, a dynamic blend of cultural influences and personal experiences, marking her as a unique voice at the crossroads of art, identity, and technology.
