Nestled in one of Hine Mizushima‘s wooden dioramas are an ancient marine menagerie. Vibrant blue felt lines the walls of the plush environment, which houses a few ammonites, along with tall seagrass and small patches of coral reef.
From her studio in Vancouver, Mizushima sews whimsical renditions of underwater creatures. Her soft, fiber sculptures take a playful approach to natural life, sometimes placing an octopus on top of a human heart or watching a moray eel slide out of an artery. Often depicted in pastel colors and decorated with beading and crochet details, the creatures are friendly and even glitzy interpretations of their real-life counterparts.
The works shown here are on view in Mizushima’s solo exhibition Creatures and curiosities on view from September 14 to October 22 at Boris Zakkaten in Tokyo. Find more at Instagram.
