Yuki Hayama
Memory Box: Imperial Gift of an Iznik Blue I
Ceramics
H2 1/8 x W4 1/4 x D2 1/4 in
H5.2 x W10.7 x D5.7 cm
H5.2 x W10.7 x D5.7 cm
C21992
Further images
Japan is one of the countries with the longest life expectancy, with an average of 83.84 years (2015). The transience of humans and the transience of memories have something in common. That is why people try to leave their mark on this world. In this work of art, the artist used the ancient Greek plant design pattern and the royal emblem of the modern Romanov dynasty to express the history as a collection of human memories, with a picture of Swan Lake drawn inside the box to illustrate the quiet presence of life.