Photographed by Kenichi Asano

Megumi Ohata

ABOUT

Megumi Ohata is a London-based interdisciplinary and special effects artist, primarily of Japanese heritage with a mixed Korean background. They are renowned for innovative creations that feature unique artificial skin textiles imprinted with their own skin textures.

Ohata achieved a First Class Honours Degree in BA Illustration at Camberwell College of Art, University of the Arts London in 2019 and achieved distinction in MA Contemporary Art Practice from the Royal College of Art, London in 2023. They were runner-up for the Batsford Prize 2019 in the fashion category and delivered an artist talk Reimagining Human Body at Tate Modern in 2023. In 2022, they were awarded The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation Arts & Culture grant for their show EDGE in 2023, as part of an artist collective.

ARTIST STATEMENT

Ohata's work deeply explores identity and Posthuman philosophy while also confronting personal traumas of child abuse, gender struggles, and discrimination due to their Asian heritage. Using SFX techniques, Ohata creates wearable sculptural installations inspired by the rich folklore of Japanese Yokai. By merging human and animal-like forms, Ohata seeks to challenge conventional boundaries between 'self' and 'other', aiming to create a space for contemplation and dialogue on identity, existence, the complexities of cultural displacement, and the fluidity between human and non-human realms. Ohata views their art as an extension of their body—a tool to blur boundaries beyond their skin and explore non-human forms within.

Ohata fosters an environment conducive to intimate interactions, encouraging profound connections, empathy, and understanding, while also provoking introspection about our shared existence. In their journey to reconcile traumatic experiences, Ohata questions the role of artists in breaking free from society's negative cycles and poses the question: What does a body need to be relatable?