Elevator Girls first started as performance piece early in her career. It was to represent and reflect on what Yanagi was going through at this time.
The switch from performance art to photography was because Yanagi wanted complete control in what was going on.[5] These young models are all physically similar in body composition. The way they are posed shows that they are restricted on what they can do and where they can go, much as restrictions are placed on women culturally. In the photos the elevator girls stare at architectural design or consumer goods. The staring represents society's obsession with consumer goods.[5] These standardized young women in her artwork series symbolized the capitalistic and patriarchal society of Japan and how the roles of women in the workforce of Japan is suppressed and idealized to serve and obey their male-dominated society.[6]