Language, Culture, Idioms and Metaphors

Having lived in two different countries, I have developed a deeper appreciation for how language shapes culture. Both written and verbal language play a significant role in how one immerses oneself in a cultural context.

Weapon of Choice was created not only as part of my personal journey but also as a means to address violence against women in Japanese society and to initiate conversations that raise awareness of these issues. To convey these ideas, I have incorporated Japanese idioms and metaphors as references throughout the series. Expressions are deeply rooted in culture, reflecting the attitudes and personalities of people, and I enjoy exploring idioms and metaphors in both Australian English and Japanese to deepen my cultural understanding.

In this series, colors and objects symbolically represent the subjects. For instance, the color blue is used to depict juveniles, referencing the Japanese idiom 青二才 (ao nisai), which literally translates to "blue two-year-old" and is used to describe immaturity.

The most recent works in this series feature images of seashells overlaid on old photographs of my mother and me. This draws from the Japanese metaphor 貝になる (kai ni naru), meaning "to become a shell" – a phrase that represents silence, as tightly closed lips resemble a closed shell.

When my mother discovered one of the assaults, she closed herself off, like a shell. Nothing was ever spoken about it, and to this day, I do not know if my father is even aware. When I reflect on that time in our lives, I picture my mother as a lone shell by a turbulent ocean, trying to protect her pearl – me – even though doing so shattered her, because she believed it was the best way to keep me safe.

Minami Ivory is part of »Guest Room: Aaron Stern«

Check out her Artist Feature Weapon of Choice.