From August 2025 to April 2026, I worked on a project called NAKA.

NAKA is a blind box.  If you’re not familiar with the concept of a blind box, it’s a sealed package that contains a mystery figure from a themed series – in this case, it’s from my NAKA series. NAKA is not only a blind box but also a political climate statement about the deforestation occurring in the Amazon Rainforest.

NAKA is a Japanese Kanji (character) that signifies “within”.  I chose NAKA to represent my tree characters as they are spirits within the forest.  Each figure symbolizes a different type of tree in the Amazon. I believe that all trees hold life in them; they have stories to tell about all they’ve witnessed.  NAKA is a way to display their personalities and spread awareness about the trees.

The NAKA figure has two sides depicting anger and happiness.  In addition to the figure, the box also contains an identity card that details the name, image, and characteristics of the NAKA figure you received, along with the reasons for its endangerment in the Amazon.