What's that ruckus we've been hearing in the Children's Room lately? A herd of elephants doing yoga?! 

On paper, that is...

Yuko K.: Days of the Happy Elephant is on view in the Children's Room of the Mulberry Street Library (Lower Level One) through March 10, 2016.  I spoke with Yuko K. recently about her delightful exhibit. 

Your latest work deals with Elephants (like the Hindu God Ganesh) and the ancient practice of yoga—why did you choose these symbols for your latest project? 

Since I was a small child the elephant has been one of my favorite animals. The city I grew up in is one of the largest trading port cities in Japan,where I had opportunities to see imported crafts like Indian fabric with elephant patterns and posters, and icons of Ganesh then appeared at some local ethnic fabric and clothing stores. 

I didn’t have any idea of Ganesh before that and, although elephants are treated as a special icon in some Asian countries, when I first found them I was too young to understand its significance. However those exotic elephant images stayed etched in my mind even after I became an adult when I decided to realize these inspirations in my own way, creating elephant characters for this series. While not directly intending to represent the Hindu God Ganesh, I understand it’s possible for viewers to overlap the images of my illustrations in such a way, since the original inspiration derives in part from Indian and Asian culture. The concept of this series brings people, as a result, the awareness for love, peace and happiness. In addition, sometime after I began to make these elephant works, I started to learn Yoga. Finding it a very interesting experience, I was further inspired to express my appreciation for Yoga practice in making drawings of elephant Yoga. Coincidentally, a few months after I began working on my Yoga elephant series I found Babar’s Yoga For Elephants book in a downtown book store, a surprising synchronicity and very impressive to me.

Do you practice yoga? If so, what benefits do you think it brings to you, and your artwork? 

Yes. Yoga practice has brought me the benefit of awareness of the connection between our body and mind. Maintaining both a good physical and mental state is always important in clearing my mind to focus on creating better art.

What is the technique you use to make these Elephant prints? 

All the prints in this exhibition are silkscreen prints. Nowadays, young people and artists draw very well using the computer, but all of these original designs are made by my hand drawings. In the case of my elephant yoga, I first took time to study the structures of a human yoga posture, drew sketches to figure them out and then began to decide how to deform them to put on my elephant shape. My finished artworks might look simple in a way but the process of choosing better curved lines to fit with each posture is not always so easy, and expressing presence with simplicity needs to work well with patience.

What do you like about showing your work in the Children's room?

I believe children’s creations are always the best inspiration for art and the artist. Children are always great inventors and teachers- they have a free mind, views and ideas that we, as adults, have easily forgotten or passed over in focusing on our practical lives. I learn a lot from their existence. That’s why I am glad and feel honored for this opportunity where my art works can exist in their everyday lives sharing time and space in the Children’s room.

Do you have a message that you hope your artwork communicates to children? 

I am always hoping my artworks can create good communication and inspiration in sharing them with people. Especially I think children should always live with a feeling of hope to be surrounded by love, seeing this world is wonderful to create many happy moments and love no matter what is the reality of the world. For that, if my artworks can contribute even little, it would be great pleasure to me.

You can visit Yuko's website to find out more.