Yoshitomo Nara’s Mori Girl, 2012, is a captivating sculpture that epitomises the themes of childhood memory that lie at the heart of the artist’s work. Crafted in Nara’s signature kawaii aesthetic, the piece transforms his most enduring motif – a little girl – into a whimsical forest tree. Her hair forms layered tiers resembling tree foliage, with shades of green and yellow that evoke the gentle interplay of light filtering through leaves. This palette radiates a sense of warmth, healing, and joy. The figure’s wide, cartoon-like eyes, coupled with a delicate and endearing smile, exude innocence and serenity, marking a shift from the subtle defiance often found in Nara’s works. Instead, Mori Girl reflects a tranquil, introspective mood, evocative of the peace that can be found in nature.

The title, "Mori Girl," which translates to "Forest Girl," hints at the intimate relationship between the artist and the natural world. Growing up in Aomori, a rural town in Northern Japan known for its apple orchards, Nara spent much of his childhood surrounded by trees, animals, and open fields rather than urban landscapes. Reflecting on his upbringing, Nara said:

“It is in an agricultural area, not like your normal vision of Japan, of a massive city like Tokyo. There was neither art nor friends who you could talk to about art. I was so lonely and only surrounded by apple trees… I could talk to nobody except nature. So I talked to the trees, the dog and the pigs… so I got this special sensibility to nature, which I thought many years later was a good thing.”

— Yoshitomo Nara

This deep connection with nature, forged during his formative years, became a cornerstone of Nara’s creative practice. Mori Girl can be interpreted as a nostalgic embodiment of his imaginary childhood companions – an artistic homage to the solace and kinship he found in the natural world. The sculpture’s tender, spiritual quality invites viewers to reconnect with their own childhood memories and the quiet moments of wonder they may have shared with nature.

Yoshitomo Nara discusses the influences of animals and nature from his childhood on his practice, for the exhibition All My Little Words, Albertina Museum, Vienna, 10 May – 1 November 2023.