Sketch of the Wave UFO , 2004

Mariko Mori is a Japanese contemporary artist. Her art concept involves taking traditional Japanese culture, as well as its history, and adding futuristic components to create a final piece. Much of her work involves photography. It is common to find a futuristic theme involving cosplay costumes as the central focus of her photos. Mori's photography process involves many self-portraits with hand-made costumes and thematic elements, including aliens and robots. One of her most recognized works is from an early point in her career, entitled Play With Me. She dressed up as an overly sexualized alien woman and posed in acts of every day life. Her tableau pieces often emphasize a futuristic setting meshed with the traditional role women are faced with. Mori also explores philosophical aspects in her works of art. She expresses a deep connection to nature to help explore the concepts of consciousness, death and modern technology. Through this exploration, she has created interactive installations, such as Wave UFO.