In a world first, M+ presents a two-person exhibition of the photographic works of Yasumasa Morimura (Japanese, born 1951) and Cindy Sherman (American, born 1954). Both artists are renowned for their visual and conceptual strategies of masquerade, transforming their appearances to portray multiple identities that offer incisive commentary on contemporary culture and history.

Presented as part of the Pao-Watari Exhibition Series, Yasumasa Morimura and Cindy Sherman: Masquerades features works from major early series by Morimura and Sherman. The exhibition traces the genesis of their practices, which reimagine iconic imagery from art history, cinema, and media culture. These creative acts of masquerade not only emulate the source material, but also embody the artists’ unique perspectives and contexts. Their representations deviate from the original images, triggering a sense of familiarity as well as ambiguity. By establishing a fluid relationship with their subjects, Morimura and Sherman explore identity as a malleable construct.