Uoza
Umibōzu, a character who in some legends became a water demon due to some special reason or unfortunate event. In some versions of the legend, the Umibōzu may have drowned accidentally in the water, or may have become a water demon because of an abandoned soul that became an Umibōzu out of spite or an inability to transcend life and death, and the Umibōzu are often seen at sea, sometimes at night when the winds and waves are rough, attempting to lure ships and their crews into the dangerous waters.
As time moves forward, the size and presence of the monster diminish—towering and dominant in the distant past, but fading and nearly transparent in the future. In contrast, man-made structures and technology become increasingly dominant in the composition. Through this evolving visual narrative, I explore the shifting balance between humans and nature, and raise questions about the impact of technological progress on our relationship with the natural world.
“UOZA” is an illustration series centered on Umibōzu, a sea monster from Japanese folklore said to capsize the boats of fishermen. I believe this myth reflects humanity’s deep respect and fear toward the vast power of the sea. This series consists of four illustrations, each set in a different era: Ancient Times, the Past Century, the Present, and the Future.
This is a color test for UOZA, focusing on how color shapes the emotional tone of each scene.
In the illustration showing antiquity (left), I chose red as the dominant color. When applied to a natural seascape, large areas of red evoke a sense of dread and surreal tension. It emphasizes the overwhelming presence and terrifying power of the sea monster. The unnatural use of red in nature reinforces the mythic overtones and sense of menace of the “sea monster.”
In contrast, the illustration representing the last century (right) utilizes a dark blue hue. This serves two purposes: first, to clearly differentiate the dominant colors of the two periods; and second, to convey the sense of mystery associated with the sea. At this stage of history, mankind was still in awe and wonder of the ocean. The deep blue hue reflects this lingering awe and the unknown depths to be explored.
In these two works, I employ strong contrasts of warm and cool and use highly saturated colors to create visual intensity. The bold purity of the colors enhances the emotional atmosphere, contrasting the human presence with the raw power of nature.
In the modern scene, the sea monster has its back to the viewer, facing an oncoming giant freighter. Here, I chose a brighter, more modern color scheme, with blue-green and orange-yellow tones. This stark contrast evokes a sense of confrontation and imbalance - between organic life and industrial scale, between nature and technology.
Finally, for the futuristic scene, I chose a yellow-green color scheme to depict a calm, almost sterile environment. A massive man-made ship rests silently in the still waters, while small, translucent, fragile sea monsters either float or perch silently on the surface of the ship. The compositions and colors reflect a shift in power - the sea monsters are no longer fearsome forces, but fading traces of myth, dwarfed by human architecture.
Throughout the series, I use strong warm and cool contrasts and high color saturation to enhance the emotional impact of each era. The ever-changing color palette helps to narrate the ever-changing relationship between mankind and nature - from fear and mystery to confrontation and finally to quiet erasure.