Mari Shimizu — Passion of the Mimic Girls

Passion of the Mimic Girls is an international monograph dedicated to Japanese doll artist Mari Shimizu

Passion of the Mimic Girls is an international monograph dedicated to Japanese doll artist Mari Shimizu

Passion of the Mimic Girls is an international monograph dedicated to Japanese doll artist Mari Shimizu, whose distinctive practice explores the beauty, mystery, and emotional presence of ball-jointed dolls and experimental doll-like objects.

Originally from Amakusa, Kumamoto, Shimizu graduated from Tama Art University and has developed a unique artistic language that extends far beyond conventional doll making. Her work has appeared in music, film, television, theater, fashion, and contemporary art, establishing her as one of Japan’s most distinctive and internationally recognized doll artists.

Her dolls have been exhibited across Japan and internationally, including in Italy, France, the United States, Azerbaijan, Taiwan, South Korea, and Germany. She has also collaborated with artists, filmmakers, fashion designers, galleries, and cultural institutions throughout her career.

From her long-standing collaboration with the band MUCC to her work for Alice in Dreamland, exhibitions at the Yokohama Doll Museum, and appearances in international art and design publications, Shimizu’s practice continuously crosses the boundaries between sculpture, photography, performance, and popular culture.

Passion of the Mimic Girls brings together a selection of her remarkable creations, offering an intimate portrait of an artist whose dolls exist somewhere between the familiar and the uncanny, the beautiful and the mysterious.

Published internationally by The Guide Artists.