Speaking of ceramic figurines, we may conjure up Meissen or Lladoro porcelain wares which have flavors of optimistic romanticism. However, Murakami’s figurines of ceramics usually remind us of the association toward death. Most of them are represented by the decaying plant-like images of dying woman.
On the “ware”, that is, the most human primitive creations made of lump of earth and fire, Murakami superposes the “ware” as of woman, who produces next lives receiving phallus and all kinds of good or ill fortunes. Her figurines expose the belly cavity and take roots and integrate with the earth in the end with a look of rapt resignation.
A stream of life that a girl after growing becomes a woman and has children and finally perishes yet a line of life continues, is condensed and expressed in her figurines. Sometimes, she creates woman’s beasts with a touch of humor. It may seem a bit grotesque or bizarre, but to be fair, she deftly embodies the grace of woman’s body given to the world.