Q: Tell us why do you make sculptures about sex.

Yuriko: It's because my mind/body/soul tells me so. The topic fascinates me. In fact, even as a child I used to produce erotic manga (Japanese for comic books) and hide them in my locked drawer. I hid them because I didn't want my family to find out. But I remember feeling very excited whenever I draw my erotic manga or look at them in my privacy. It was fun.

As an adult, I produce art about sex for the similar reason and more. I want to explore and celebrate life itself. It is obvious that nature is preoccupied with procreation. The energy that comes out of it all fuels our existence.

Many ancient cultures produced fertility art in different medium for rituals, ceremonies as well as for pleasure. What I do is nothing new and I have a strong desire to keep up this tradition of embracing sexuality, nature and humanity.

Q: Why do you work so extensively in stone?

Y: Because I love it so much! My stone carving is one of a kind and it is DURABLE. It's going to be around for a while and it's the antithesis of mass produced, industrial products that we are constantly bombarded with these days.

Stone also lifts up my heart. When I see its beautiful colors and patterns created by nature in the course of thousands of years or more, I am in awe. When I work with stone with my hands, I feel deeply connected to the earth and I imagine the incredible journey that a rock has taken to come to my possession. I suppose you can say that I make little rocks out of big rocks!

Q: How long does it take you to carve a stone sculpture?

Y: People ask me this question all the time. I will say, each piece takes a lifetime because it is the sum total of everything I have ever experienced. I want people to know that creativity is nothing like a job with an hourly wage.

Q: And finally, do you feel that your artwork reflects
your Japanese background?

Y: I think somewhat. I consider myself a world citizen but Japan will always be my home country. I will always carry its cultural sensibilities and they will show in my work one way or the other. But more importantly, what I would like to convey in my art is a universal message to esteem and embrace life, nature and love.