Art by Stephanie M. Ng
  • ILLUSTRATION
    • PORTRAITS
    • ABSTRACT
    • STRANGE WAYS MAGAZINE
    • RED BULL CURATES
    • SKULLS
    • MISC.
    • FRED'S HAVING A BAD DAY
    • RENAISSANCE HOTELS
    • REACH
  • ANIMATION
    • SCRABBLE NIGHT
    • RENT-A-FAMILY
    • RAMEN SANCTUARY
    • SHADY TRUMP BROS.
    • ASTEROIDS
    • SPIN TO WIN
    • SHREDDING HELP
    • CONNECT THE DOTS
    • NUCLEAR FAMILY
    • 2019 / 2020
    • HEADSPACE
    • UNSEE
    • PONG THE CANDIDATES
    • DESIGNER DNA
    • BETO VS TABLE
  • EDITORIAL
    • HERO MAGAZINE
    • RENT-A-FAMILY
    • UNSEE
    • SPIN TO WIN
    • SHADOWDRAGON
    • NUCLEAR FAMILY
    • SHREDDING HELP
    • PPE SHORTAGE
    • FACIAL RECOGNITION BIAS
    • DESIGNER DNA
    • THE KEY TO THE VACCINE
    • RESIGNATION SYNDROME
    • ASTEROIDS
    • CONNECT THE DOTS
    • TRUMP PUZZLE
    • STRANGE WAYS MAGAZINE
    • PONG THE CANDIDATES
    • BETO VS TABLE
  • GRAPHIC DESIGN
    • A BITE OF PODCAST
    • CENTER FOR COLLABORATIVE DEMOCRACY
    • INTERNATIONAL PRIDE ORCHESTRA
    • NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC
    • REEDCOB
    • STRAND BOOKS
    • JUICETOWN
    • ATTORNEY LOGO & BUSINESS CARD
    • PHOTOGRAPHER BUSINESS CARD
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT

Rent-A-Family

An image inspired by the “rent-a-family” practice in Japan, where people hire actors as stand-ins for friends, family, coworkers, whomever they need (platonically). People have booked fake grandchildren for sick grandparents too old to see their first grandchild born, fake mourners to bolster turnout for funerals, fake coworkers to apologize to clients for mistakes, fake spouses for weddings (complete with fake in-laws and guests), even fake parents to spend time with children. The list goes on and can get.. bizarre. The length of roles can range from single events to years - sometimes lifetimes.⁣
⁣
It's a practice that's first amusing then saddening... or perhaps uplifting. Depends on how you see it. How much does the avoidance of reality affect us if the charade never ends?⁣ 

--
Inspired by The New Yorker's "Japan's Rent-a-Family Industry" & The Atlantic's "How to Hire Fake Friends and Family"

  • ILLUSTRATION
    • PORTRAITS
    • ABSTRACT
    • STRANGE WAYS MAGAZINE
    • RED BULL CURATES
    • SKULLS
    • MISC.
    • FRED'S HAVING A BAD DAY
    • RENAISSANCE HOTELS
    • REACH
  • ANIMATION
    • SCRABBLE NIGHT
    • RENT-A-FAMILY
    • RAMEN SANCTUARY
    • SHADY TRUMP BROS.
    • ASTEROIDS
    • SPIN TO WIN
    • SHREDDING HELP
    • CONNECT THE DOTS
    • NUCLEAR FAMILY
    • 2019 / 2020
    • HEADSPACE
    • UNSEE
    • PONG THE CANDIDATES
    • DESIGNER DNA
    • BETO VS TABLE
  • EDITORIAL
    • HERO MAGAZINE
    • RENT-A-FAMILY
    • UNSEE
    • SPIN TO WIN
    • SHADOWDRAGON
    • NUCLEAR FAMILY
    • SHREDDING HELP
    • PPE SHORTAGE
    • FACIAL RECOGNITION BIAS
    • DESIGNER DNA
    • THE KEY TO THE VACCINE
    • RESIGNATION SYNDROME
    • ASTEROIDS
    • CONNECT THE DOTS
    • TRUMP PUZZLE
    • STRANGE WAYS MAGAZINE
    • PONG THE CANDIDATES
    • BETO VS TABLE
  • GRAPHIC DESIGN
    • A BITE OF PODCAST
    • CENTER FOR COLLABORATIVE DEMOCRACY
    • INTERNATIONAL PRIDE ORCHESTRA
    • NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC
    • REEDCOB
    • STRAND BOOKS
    • JUICETOWN
    • ATTORNEY LOGO & BUSINESS CARD
    • PHOTOGRAPHER BUSINESS CARD
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT