Collaboration is one of the most enriching aspects of artistic practice. It invites us to step out of our individual creative spaces and enter into a dialogue with others, often leading to outcomes we could never have envisioned alone. Throughout my journey as an artist, collaborations have been opportunities for growth, experimentation, and discovery. Here, I’d like to share three projects that exemplify the transformative power of collaboration.
7×7.la Collaboration with Poet Adam Soldofsky
One of my first collaborations took place with poet Adam Soldofsky for 7×7.la, an online magazine that fosters creative pairings between artists and writers. Inspired by the collaborative format of early 20th-century Surrealist parlour games, 7×7.la challenges two creators to engage daily over two weeks, building an improvised narrative or sequence.
From the start, Adam and I shared an instinctual creative sympathy, which allowed our work to explore a familiar sense of unease and disorientation. The result, Not an Exit, became a reflection of these themes, offering infinite interpretations that fork and diverge like the avenues of a maze. This collaboration can be found here:
Body Painting Collaboration with Photographer Patrice Delmote
My fascination with mazes and labyrinths took on a new dimension in Filles d’Ariane, a collaboration with Taiwan-based French photographer Patrice Delmote. For this project, I experimented with body painting, creating intricate mazes that appeared like tattoos or mysterious afflictions spreading across the model’s skin.
The process required precision, and after testing various materials, I discovered that eyeliner offered the perfect balance of accuracy, durability, and ease of removal. Each maze took hours to complete, turning the act of painting into a meditative process. The collaboration resulted in hauntingly beautiful images that married the labyrinthine patterns of my work with Delmote’s evocative chiaroscuro photography, showcasing how collaboration can breathe new life into recurring themes.
The full project can be purchased HERE.
In the Mood for Art: A COVID-19 Project for Revver Magazine
During the global lockdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, collaboration became more important than ever. While Japan did not enforce mandatory confinements, I received invitations to collaborate from artists navigating isolation in their countries. One such project was Lockdown, organized by French photographer Stéphane Ferrero in Shanghai for Revver Magazine . This collaboration combined body painting, photography, and fiction to capture the profound sense of isolation and connection during the pandemic.
The project revolved around a short visual story of a person noticing a virus spreading on their skin and their neighbor’s, reflecting the fear and alienation of the time. Remote body painting was completed in post-production, layered atop Ferrero’s evocative photographs. A short fiction piece accompanied the visuals, enhancing the narrative’s depth. This project was a testament to how art can bridge divides and convey shared experiences, even in times of crisis.
Each of these collaborations pushed me to explore new techniques and perspectives, reinforcing the idea that art is never truly a solitary act. Whether working with a poet, a photographer, or across continents during a pandemic, these experiences have enriched my creative practice and reminded me of the boundless potential of shared creativity. This ethos of collaboration is finally at the heart of Kura Curiosa. The modular art project is designed to invite interaction and engagement. Just as these partnerships opened doors to unimagined paths, Kura Curiosa creates a platform where viewers and participants can shape their own journeys, fostering new ways to connect, create, and communicate.
