Contemporary Japanese Clay Figurines: An Artistic Tradition Reinvented

**【Background of the Creation】**

"Dogū" figures, unearthed from various places in Japan, were created during the Jomon period about 15,000 years ago and are referred to as Jomon pottery. Each of these figures, with their distinct and free expressions, fascinates me, Wakui Akira. Among them, the "Shakōki-dogū" (Goggle-eyed dogū) stands out. These mysterious and enigmatic forms of Jomon dogū continue to captivate archaeologists and artists alike, casting an enduring spell of wonder and mystery, and still convey messages to us in the modern era. The dogū that continue to enchant me are a magnificent gift from the Jomon people to myself. I have redesigned the Shakōki-dogū, crafting figures that incorporate modern culture and characters on the reverse side—a fusion of past and present in a single entity, intending to send a piece of contemporary world and Japanese culture to future generations through these figures.

I create these because, much like many civilizations that have perished, if our civilization were to disappear, it is unlikely that much of our contemporary visual culture or printed books would survive into the future. Simply replicating modern designs onto dogū would not only risk copyright infringement but also lack originality. Nonetheless, as a dogū artist, the sales of my works fund further productions and activities. Therefore, instead of directly copying existing cultural characters, I rely on my vague memories to create deliberately divergent designs, embedding the precariousness of information transmission and the fragility of what we call 'history' into the design of the dogū.

I believe that when the Jomon people encountered extraterrestrials, the Shakōki-dogū they crafted were based on memories of those encounters."