It is said that the only thing worth stealing is a kiss from a sleeping baby. We completely agree, especially when they are the stars of nezo art (which literally translates as "sleeping position art").
The art wasn't exactly made in Japan. The true pioneer in this genre is Finnish former designer Adele Enersen, who rose to Internet fame with her blog Mila's Daydreams. She photographed her daughter sleeping in various artsy dreamscapes realized with props and costumes. She eventually spun that popularity into a photo book, titled "When My Baby Dreams" and published in January 2012.
While Mami Koide has clearly been inspired by Enerson, the 41-year-old illustrator diverges from the master by giving her dream tableaux a slightly more DIY vibe. In fact, in her self-imposed rules, Koide says creators of nezo art should strive to use everyday objects found around the house as their props. It's all a matter of taste, but we prefer the more amateurish, homey nezo creations.
Koide is not alone in Japan. NAVER Matome has compiled an array of photos contributed by individuals who have chosen to put their little ones on the slumber stage. You can also check the Twitter hashtag #NezoArt for more. And if that isn't enough, there's Koide's recently publish photo book, "Nezo Art Book."
