SPIRIT series AKUONI NO KAMI

Under the theme of preserving precious memories that are being lost, Sakai has created a series of works taking as motifs his own memories, the memories of others, and the memories of an era, each worked into an abstract image.

Memories, holding within them someone's colorful thoughts that remain in the heart. To pass them on to future generations, there must be something people can entrust their truly precious memories to across the ages, with peace of mind. In the past, that role fell to religious entities such as "gods", continuing to offer lessons and solace to people of every era.

What is a "god" in contemporary Japan? Perhaps it can be found in manga, anime, and "oshi" (idol fan) culture, all of which have influenced Sakai himself. Against the backdrop of contemporary Japanese culture, which absorbs diverse influences and develops in its own unique way, Sakai draws on "gods" from across time and place to create a new series that might be called "guardian deities of memory". Through the material and technique of ceramics — fired clay, capable of holding its form for a long time — it is carried far into the future.