This Japanese photographer became famous when she published her first series of works known as Elevator girls: surrealist pictures where several women all dressed the same, look emotionless and almost lifeless; sometimes surrounded by mirrors. They portray themes of the everyday life of  workers from Japanese department stores, girls that arren’t allowed to make decisions or have thoughts of their own, a metaphor of the restrictions that are placed culturally among women in that country.

Years later she released the series called  Fairy tales in which the characters are represented by girls. Some of them wear make up and wigs to make them seem older and uglier, dealing with conflicts of age and beauty. This black and white photographs are all based in the Brothers Grimm’s fairy tales but are actually a little bit creepy and twisted.

Miwa Yanagi gained worldwide fame by using her art to show the way women are nowadays viewed and treated by society and themselves. Definitely a must-see. Enjoy!

(All photos taken from yanagimiwa.net)