Saeborg

Profile

Born in Toyama in 1981. Lives and works in Tokyo.
Graduated with a BA in Department of Fine Arts from Joshibi University of the Arts and Design in 2006.

Recent exhibitions:
2023 “Middlesbrough Art Week,” United Kingdom
2023 “Theater der Welt,” Frankfurt and Offenbach, Germany
2022 “Ultra Unreal,” Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney
2021 Solo Exhibition “LIVESTOCK,” PARCO MUSEUM TOKYO, Tokyo
2020 Solo Exhibition “Cycle of L,” The Museum of Art, Kochi 

Award:
2014 “The 17th Taro Okamoto Award for Contemporary Art,” Toshiko Award

About works / performance

Saeborg is an imperfect cyborg that is half human and half toy. In performances and exhibitions both in Japan and abroad, Saeborg creates latex bodysuits through which she can artificially transcend physical characteristics such as age and gender. In her performances, she employs colorful and deformed representations of insects and livestock, including female cattle and pigs. These performances at first seem bright and playful, but they touch on issues of human cruelty and animal consumption as well as social issues like nursing and care. Her work defies characterization by simple dichotomies of strong and weak or benefactor and beneficiary, facing head-on the issues of coexistence and acceptance of diversity.