Mitsuko Taira uses the forms of living creatures to express a quiet, tranquil world through wood sculpture. Her work is inspired by sources such as the Bible, poetry, and folktales, which she transforms into poetic scenes carved in wood. Because she lives with an elderly dog, her sculptures often reflect a deep sensitivity to the warmth and texture of living beings. The delicate shading of eyelashes or the softness of fur are rendered with careful attention and affection. In a world marked by ongoing conflict and the rapid consumption of all things, her wooden animals stand in contrast to human society. They embody a sense of purity and beauty that is increasingly rare in the modern age, serving as a gentle and quiet form of resistance to it.
“The Annunciation” depicts the biblical moment when the angel Gabriel appears to Mary and tells her that she will conceive a child by the Holy Spirit. This scene has been interpreted by many artists throughout history in various ways.
Confusion, followed by acceptance.
Learning of one’s destiny—and receiving a blessing.
Before the Annunciation, Mary was an ordinary young woman, engaged to be married. Becoming the bearer of God’s child, regardless of her own will, remains a subject of debate.
This work explores themes of inescapable fate and the blessing of life.
These sculptures each show a different expression inspired by the same story.