木の中 石の鬼 is based on the research about the trees and mythology of Onishi (Gunma, Japan). The word “oni” means "demon", in Japanese, and its meaning has changed throughout history, used in the past to refer to people who were alien or strange to the dominant culture. An anecdote from the Onishi and Fujioka regions tells of the Emishi people, who were defeated in battle, taken captive, and brought to Yuzurigahara. In popular narratives is also said that the word "onishi” was originated from the Ainu language, in which "oni" means "tree". Just as local narratives were forgotten over time, many trees were cut down during Japan's development.
The main mythology of Onishi says that beneath the Onishi Shrine remains the last stone that was thrown by demons who terrified the village before they were expelled by a monk. Does the demon refer to the "alien" people brought to the region from a minority culture during imperial times? Or were they the ghosts of the fallen trees?
The artwork interweaves historical narrative with speculation, expressing unknown aspects of history and cultural interaction with the forest, showing how the relationship with plants, culture, and memory are interrelated and develop in parallel.
