MIYAKO TERAKURA

The exhibition presents a series of sculptures depicting children in diverse forms and situations: some gaze into the distance while riding on clouds, some quietly fall asleep, while others find themselves in the rain or amidst the snow. Among them, the “children on the clouds” symbolize the hopes and wishes for the future that we carry within, while the “children in everyday life” embody the small joys and subtle emotions that quietly exist within our daily lives. For Terakura, there is no clear boundary between dreams and reality. Ideals and hopes that may seem distant can, perhaps, already exist quietly in small forms within our ordinary daily lives.

Terakura draws upon the soft and malleable qualities of clay to create sculptures that convey a sense of warmth and intimacy. For the artist, clay undergoes a transformation through firing, evolving from soft earth into a material capable of enduring over time. In this sense, it becomes a medium through which she explores the “child” within each of us. The child not only represents innocence, but also evokes the self we once were. As we navigate the complexities and distractions of the modern world, the children in Terakura’s works become gentle mirrors, stirring memories and emotions within us.

A Small Presence invites viewers to slow down and enter a quiet moment where dreams and reality meet, gently listening to the subtle presence of everyday life.

Miyako Terakura (born in 1994, Gifu Prefecture, Japan)

Terakura received her Master’s Degree in Ceramics from Tokyo University of the Arts and spent six months studying at Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Art and Design in Wrocław, Poland, during her university years. She received the Galerie Soie Award at KENZAN 2021 in Japan and has exhibited her work in Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Taipei, Beijing, and other cities. Terakura creates figurative sculptures centered on children, employing techniques including hand-building with clay and porcelain slip casting.