New York Bedrooms by Monika Mogi

Photographer Monika Mogi shot her close circle of friends at home in New York through an intimate lens.

Monika is a self-taught photographer, based in New York and Tokyo.
She is currently working on self-publishing a photo book of her work, spanning a decade.
Her most recent book is "Dream Blue", published by PARCO.

We asked the five free-spirited creatives for some tips to stay close to each other and enjoy life even in times of pandemic.

Photographer Monika Mogi has captured her close circle of friends in New York.

Monika Mogi is a self-taught photographer based in New York and Tokyo.
She is currently working on self-publishing a collection of her work spanning over a decade.
Her latest photobook is "Yume no Tsuzuki" (Dream Blue), published by PARCO.

We asked five free-spirited creators for their tips on how to enjoy life without losing a sense of intimacy even during the pandemic.

- What do you do in New York?

I model and also create many different things.


- How has COVID-19 changed your life?

I cannot see my family and friends and go travelling easily like before. But instead, I have more time to think about what I want to do next and actually do it, or do things that I have never done before.
So in fact, my life is quite fulfilled now.


- What do you like to do at home?

Listen to Jun Miura's radio archives, giggle and make things with a sewing machine.


- What was the best book you've read / movie you've watched recently?

The most interesting book amongst the books I have recently bought is "Some Hold Out Your Poison" by Taro Okamoto.
The books I have read many times are "Invitation to Zen" by Tadanori Yokoo and "The Funeral Diary" by Juzo Itami.

My favorite movies amongst the movies I have watched during the pandemic are "After Hours" by Martin Scorsese, "Green Card" by Peter Weir and "The Game" by David Fincher.

- Please tell us what you do in New York.

I model and make all sorts of things.


- Has COVID-19 brought any changes to your life?

I can't see my family and friends easily or travel as I used to, but instead, I have more time to think about what I want to do next, put those things into action, and try things I've never done before, so I'm actually feeling very fulfilled.


- What do you like to do at home?

Listening to Jun Miura's radio archives, giggling, and using my sewing machine to make various things.


- What is the best book or movie you've enjoyed recently?

A book I bought recently and found interesting is Taro Okamoto's "Jibun no Naka ni Doku wo Mote" (Have Poison Within Yourself).
Books I reread often are Tadanori Yokoo's "Waga Zazen Shugyoki" (My Zen Training Journal) and Juzo Itami's "Ososhiki Nikki" (Funeral Diary).

Movies I watched for the first time and liked during the pandemic are Martin Scorsese's "After Hours", Peter Weir's "Green Card", and David Fincher's "The Game".

- How do you stay connected to your friends and family who live far/abroad?

I video call with my family.
My nephew is too cute, so I cannot help.
With my close friends, I feel like I connect with them even if we don't contact each other often.


- What does being close to someone mean to you?

I don't contact friends who live far and in a different time zone, but they take me out of the dark if I ever have a mental breakdown.
I am so thankful for them to just exist!


- What do you want to do when we return to normalcy?

In regard to my own life, I am content with things being like right now because I am doing things that I want to do, but I want to see my family and friends who live far away without isolation!

- How do you stay connected with family and friends who live far away?

I video call my family. My nephew is just too cute, I can't help myself.
With my close friends, I feel that even if we don't contact each other often, we are connected, so I think that's fine.


- To you, what does it mean to be close to someone?

I don't really contact friends who live far away in different time zones, but when I have a mental breakdown and reach out, they pull me out of the swamp. I’m just grateful that they exist!


- What do you want to do when life returns to normal?

As for my own life, I'm doing what I want to do, so I'm content as it is, but I really just want to see my family and friends who live far away without any quarantine!

- What do you do in New York?

I work in fashion in between Paris and New York.
I love to hang out with my friends here and walk around in the streets of New York!
This is the first place I travelled to since the pandemic and it’s been a blessing to be here.
One of my favourite things I’ve done in New York is go to Coney Island.


- How has COVID-19 changed your life?

Covid-19 changed my life through my career.
Me as a person I’m more spiritual than I was before the pandemic.


- What do you like to do at home?

At home I like to listen to music, dance, watch movies and meditate.


- What was the best book you've read / movie you've watched recently?

The best movie I’ve watched recently is "GO", directed by Doug Linman.

- Please tell us what you do in New York.

I work in fashion, traveling between New York and Paris.
I love hanging out with my friends here and walking around the streets of New York!
This is the first place I've visited since the pandemic spread, and I'm truly grateful to be here.
One of my favorite things I've done in New York so far is going to Coney Island.


- Has COVID-19 brought any changes to your life?

COVID changed my life in terms of my career.
Personally, I've become more spiritual than I was before the pandemic spread.


- What do you like to do at home?

At home, I like listening to music, dancing, watching movies, and meditating.


- What is the best book or movie you've enjoyed recently?

The best movie I've seen recently is "Go", directed by Doug Liman.

- How do you stay connected to your friends and family who live far/abroad?

Through Instagram or WhatsApp!!
I try to keep in touch with my friends all over the world through FaceTime.


- What does being close to someone mean to you?

It means being truly yourself.


- What do you want to do when we return to normalcy?

Come back to Tokyo!

- How do you stay connected with family and friends who live far away?

I use Instagram and WhatsApp!
I try to keep in touch with friends all over the world using FaceTime.


- To you, what does it mean to be close to someone?

To be able to be truly myself.


- What do you want to do when life returns to normal?

I want to return to Tokyo!

- What do you do in New York?

I’m an artist and filmmaker!


- How has COVID-19 changed your life?

I have more quality time to see and reflect.


- What do you like to do at home?

I like to watch Gossip Girl.


- What was the best book you've read / movie you've watched recently?

For something philosophical, ”The Wisdom of Laotse", for something sexy, "Dark Spring" by Unica Zürn, for something funny, "You’re on an Airplane" by Parker Posey and for something beautiful, "Before Pictures" by Douglas Crimp.

I’m really into psychological Lifetime thrillers from the 90s, but my favorite movie is "Nerve".
Oh! And also, video artwork, "Vital Behaviors" by Ken Okiishi.

- Please tell us what you do in New York.

I'm an artist and filmmaker!


- Has COVID-19 brought any changes to your life?

I've had more quality time to observe and reflect.


- What do you like to do at home?

I like watching Gossip Girl.


- What is the best book or movie you've enjoyed recently?

For something philosophical, "The Wisdom of Laotse". For something sexy, Unica Zürn's "Dark Spring". For something funny, Parker Posey's "You’re on an Airplane". And for something beautiful, Douglas Crimp's "Before Pictures".

I'm really into psychological Lifetime thrillers from the 90s, but my favorite movie is "Nerve".
Oh! And also, the video artwork "Vital Behaviors" by Ken Okiishi.

- How do you stay connected to your friends and family who live far/abroad?

Through telepathy.


- What does being close to someone mean to you?

Feeling at home.


- What do you want to do when we return to normalcy?

I want to dance.

- How do you stay connected with family and friends who live far away?

Through telepathy.


- To you, what does it mean to be close to someone?

To feel as comfortable as if I were home.


- What do you want to do when life returns to normal?

I want to dance.

- What do you do in New York?

I am a freelancing graphic designer.


- How has COVID-19 changed your life?

Honestly, I don’t feel like my life has changed much.
My work has always been very flexible and random.
But only because of COVID, I can afford to rent my own apartment in NYC.
It’s my first time living alone and I enjoy it very much.
Well, in exchange, I might have lost 75% of my English and social skills.


- What do you like to do at home?

Taking bubble baths, walking/jumping around naked, watching comedy on the sofa.


- What was the best book you've read / movie you've watched recently?

I am glad you asked.
It's a comedy special called “My favorite shapes” by Julio Torres.
It is very lovely and I remember thinking at the moment if anyone ever asks me this question this will be the answer.

- Please tell us what you do in New York.

I'm a freelance graphic designer.


- Has COVID-19 brought any changes to your life?

Honestly, I don't think my life has changed that much. My work has always been very flexible and random. But thanks to COVID, I've been able to afford my own apartment in New York. It's my first time living alone, and I really love it. Well, in exchange, I might have lost 75% of my English and social skills.


- What do you like to do at home?

Taking bubble baths, walking or jumping around naked, and watching comedy on the sofa.


- What is the best book or movie you've enjoyed recently?

I'm glad you asked. It's a comedy special called "My Favorite Shapes" by Julio Torres. It's very lovely, and I remember thinking at the time that if anyone ever asked me this question, this would be my answer.

- How do you stay connected to your friends and family who live far/abroad?

I call my parents on WeChat twice a day.


- What does being close to someone mean to you?

I guess it means having someone that you feel comfortable sharing feelings with, talking random nonsense with, and staring at the ceiling with.


- What do you want to do when we return to normalcy?

I want to go back to China to visit my family.
I can’t right now because of all the quarantine rules and my visa restriction.
I miss my family a lot.

- How do you stay connected with family and friends who live far away?

I talk to my parents on WeChat twice a day.


- To you, what does it mean to be close to someone?

I think it means having someone with whom you feel safe sharing your feelings, talking about nonsense, and just staring at the ceiling together.


- What do you want to do when life returns to normal?

I want to go back to China to see my family. I can't go right now because of quarantine rules and visa restrictions. I miss my family very much.

- What do you do in New York?

I’m working as a freelance motion graphic designer and illustrator.
At the same time I’m going to be a student in design and technology.


- How has COVID-19 changed your life?

Covid-19 makes it harder for me to travel back to Asia.
As a result, I decided to enjoy my time here while I’m still in New York.
Staying at home made me more productive, it also made me realize that my life shouldn’t only be around the creative industry.
Being creative in daily life is as important as being creative at work!


- What do you like to do at home?

I put a tatami in my living room.
When I’m home, I really like to sit on the tatami and put on some music on my Spotify.
It helps with my inner peace.


- What was the best book you've read / movie you've watched recently?

I watched “Castle in the Sky”.
The last time I watched it I was in primary school.
I’m glad I forgot all about it, and I got to experience this movie again.

The book I read is "The Agony Of Eros", written by Byung-Chul Han.
It’s funny when you read this book on a Friday night in New York City.
I’m reading the book alone in my apartment in lower east side while everyone else is looking for intimacy out there.
It was the moment I felt that my love was completely dead, and my situation matched the title of this book.

- Tell us what you are doing in New York.

I work as a freelance motion graphics designer and illustrator.
I also plan to become a student of design technology.


- Has COVID-19 changed your life?

COVID made it difficult to return to Asia.
As a result, I decided to enjoy my time in New York while I'm here.
Being at home made me more productive, and I realized that my life shouldn't be defined solely by the creative industry.
Being creative in my daily life is just as important as being creative at work!


- What do you like to do at home?

I put tatami mats in my living room, so I like sitting on them and listening to music on Spotify when I'm home.
It's good for my peace of mind.


- Tell us the best book or movie you’ve seen recently.

I watched "Castle in the Sky." The last time I saw it was in elementary school.
I'm glad I had forgotten the whole story, as I was able to experience it all over again.

As for a book, I read "The Agony of Eros" by Byung-Chul Han.
It was funny reading this book in New York on a Friday night.
While everyone else was out looking for intimacy, I was in my apartment in the Lower East Side reading this.
In that moment, I felt like my own love life was completely withered, matching the book's title perfectly.

- How do you stay connected to your friends and family who live far/abroad?

We use Wechat and Instagram!


- What does being close to someone mean to you?

It means we fully respect each other, and there’s always an aura of trust around us.
When I meet some life problems, she/he is the one I ask for help.


- What do you want to do when we return to normalcy?

I want to go to Tokyo and buy some vintage clothing!

- How do you stay connected with family and friends who live far away?

I use WeChat and Instagram!


- What does it mean to you to become close with someone?

It means fully respecting each other and having an aura of trust surrounding us.
It means they are someone I can ask for help when I run into life problems.


- What do you want to do when things return to normal?

I want to go to Tokyo and buy vintage clothes!