My works are based on childhood memories that I recall from time to time. I collect these memories and put them together in my work. Most recollections are connected to the ordinary scenes of nature. As a child I was taught the ancient Japanese belief of the will of nature, that all elements of nature contain their own spirits. The connection between nature and my childhood influences my subject matter. As I grew older and began to live in a busier society, I started to recollect these childhood memories that were once forgotten. These memories are always changing, becoming vague or distorted, sometimes even very vivid and then becoming mixed up with all the present moments and feelings. I construct images based on those memories, layering and manipulating several times. Some of these images are clear, but some are blurred the way memories often become, creating a work of mixed realities with imaginative hidden child like worlds. I hope that my work will encourage happy memories from the viewers, triggering memories of their own.

All images are copylright of Yoko Iwanaga may only be used with permission.