I imagine a distant future, tens of thousands of years from now, and through my work, I materialize a quiet "prayer." It is a small thing, like feeling the happiness of the gentle sunlight in the clear air on a morning after rain. Yet, at its core, it represents a very fresh and vivid reality—the awareness of being "alive," something we often forget while going about our daily lives within society.

The realization that we, as humans, are animals who sustain life is perhaps something that can only truly be recognized when we physically engage with it, through touch. Isn’t it this fragile body, which we seek to preserve for tomorrow, that we pray for, in small ways, every day?

In a future tens of thousands of years from now, Earth may have long since lost its cities and cultures, and the few humans who survive will still continue to live day by day. In an environment where sustaining life is far more difficult than it is now, they will likely experience an even deeper sense of this struggle. They will eat, sleep, dream, and pray for the days to repeat, just as we do now, but perhaps with a more tangible understanding of what it means to survive.

In today's world, where much information is easily shared, the existence of "God" may feel distant for some. At the same time, wars still occur due to differences in religious beliefs. It is precisely because of such times that I want to express a prayer for life itself, in physical form. The shapes I create are likely those that anyone might recognize, as if etched into our genetic memory. The form that emerges when I stroke the clay is made of flesh, bone, and hair, constantly stimulating the sense of touch, as though it is an extension of our very own bodies.

When people encounter this work, I hope they will feel the fresh reality of the world in which they live. From the past to the future, humans will always remain human, and I hope that, even in the continuity of this present moment, people will feel a quiet excitement in the simple yet profound truth of being alive.

（Ayuko Sugiura / December, 2024)