Sasaoka Yuriko's 'Paradise Dungeon' Exhibition at Shiga Museum of Art Explores Suffering Through Puppetry

Sasaoka Yuriko's exhibition 'Paradise Dungeon' at Shiga Museum of Art in Otsu runs from 17 January to 22 March 2026. The artist, originally trained in painting, began working with video after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, creating works that examine real-world suffering through mediated artifice. Her 2011 video 'Untitled' features a marionette with the artist's digitally superimposed head being manipulated on strings, establishing themes of violence and performance. Later works include 'Bodybuilding in the Water' (2012–13), where puppets battle underwater, and 'Anima' (2013–14), which involves a live fish and Japanese wordplay. 'Animale' (2024–25) addresses animal exploitation through sculptures made from stuffed toys and salvaged instruments. 'Torch' (2026) is an installation with mirrored pyramids showing costumed figures representing foods, accompanied by a carnivalesque soundtrack with lyrics about sacrifice. 'Planaria' (2020–21) features fish-head dolls in national costumes from countries with high suicide rates experiencing various deaths. Sasaoka's works combine handmade puppets with traditional crafts like embroidery and beading, creating a tension between grotesque violence and exuberant performance. The exhibition is organized roughly chronologically and includes works exploring consumption, death, and human-animal conflict.