“The lady who is afraid of insects”: Dressed in Kimono (traditional Japanese garment) and disguising myself as a court lady, I emerge from a cocoon with the help of Kuroko, a stagehand dressed in head-to-toe black (usually seen in Kabuki theater). I surrender her/my powerless body to the habitat, where we gain power, cultivated by relationships with other creatures. Later on, the lady transforms herself into an insect - what she is afraid of most, embracing her fear.

This work is inspired by a Japanese ancient literature about a young princess, who spends most of her time observing, learning the essence of nature and humanity that was nurtured around it, which attitude could be what we recognize today as a true spirit of scientific inquiry. She neglects to pay attentions to her appearances even though the high level of decorum is expected of a court lady of that time. Such eccentric behavior drives away a man who seeks for courtship with her. I relate to her and admire her firm determination to defy social convention and the strength to challenge Japanese traditional femininity. However, unlike her, I am afraid of insects, therefore, my version of story evolves around my fear of insects…