Ukiyo is a Japanese term with dual meanings: originally “sad world,” reflecting life’s fleeting sorrow, and later “floating world,” celebrating transience through beauty and pleasure. This series draws on both interpretations, using the image of the Maiko—a symbol of the floating world—to explore the delicate balance between joy and melancholy. Through visual contrast and shifting context, the paintings invite reflection on impermanence and emotional complexity. By layering these meanings, the work opens space for contemplation, encouraging viewers to look beyond surface elegance and consider the tension between celebration and sorrow in a world defined by constant change and ephemerality.