Portfolio Midori UNOKO

What Remains Unseen Midori UNOKO Spéos - Photoreportage 2024-2026

I followed the work of Sakura Momma, a Japanese bead embroidery artist living in Paris.

I have known her and her work for many years.

The moment I saw her pieces, I fell in love with their delicacy, beauty, and meticulous detail.

At that time, I could never have imagined that I would one day photograph her work — especially in Paris.

But in fact, it makes sense.

Although Japanese embroidery has a long history, having developed from folk and popular culture, Sakura Momma uses the Lunéville embroidery technique from France, traditionally employed in haute couture to produce her pieces.

Wanting to reveal the artist’s manual process, I choose to photograph her hands at close range, using natural light, color photography in order to capture the way light enters the work — the shimmer of the materials, the shadows cast across the intricate embroidery, the iridescent glow of a special Japanese fabric, and the comfort of her interior space where these works are created.

My photography project conveys how she engages with her work, for viewers to become aware of the background behind the beautifully adorned objects that often appear before us as if they were simply given.

Her design is inspired by the Japanese legend of the Flying Plum Tree “ Tobiume - 飛梅 ”.

“ When the east wind blows, send your fragrance to me, plum blossoms.

Do not forget the spring even though your master is gone. ” 東風吹かば にほひおこせよ 梅の花 あるじなしとて 春な忘れそ

by Sugawara no Michizane (9th century Japan)

A long time ago in Japan, a respected scholar, Sugawara no Michizane, loved a plum tree in his garden in Kyoto.

Before being exiled to southern Japan, he wrote a poem asking the blossoms to remember him.

According to legend, the tree missed him so much that it flew overnight from Kyoto to be by his side.

Midori UNOKO - 鵜子 翠 Japanese documentary photographer based in Paris.

midoriunoko.photo@gmail.com @midoriunoko midoriunoko.com