MEG (born in 1992 in Kanagawa, Japan) is an artist whose practice centers on the concept of the “inner self.” She explores human emotion as a layered structure composed of “surface emotions” (socially constructed expressions) and “inner emotions” (true feelings), focusing on the dissonance between the two. By placing artificially created smiling emoji faces onto silhouettes of animals that embody instinctive, honest emotion, she visualizes the gap between outward appearance and inner reality. Within her simple and symbolic compositions, themes such as the beauty of deception and the unconscious tendency to judge others based solely on surface impressions are embedded. Her works function as a mirror, prompting viewers to confront their own inner contradictions. In recent years, she has expanded this conceptual framework, continuing to present works that examine self-recognition and human relationships in contemporary society.