Yusuke Asai: It all started when I wanted to create two large towers, each with a human and a wolf standing back-to-back.
I made them towers because I wanted to create something much taller than you. When you’re small, you can only see the lower parts of it, but as you grow taller, you gradually come to see the upper parts as well. As you grow, the view you find around this artwork also changes.

Yusuke Asai: Wolves are a very important animal to me, and I’ve been drawing them for a long time.
They may look strong, but in reality, they live quietly and always keep a close watch on their surroundings, just because they need to survive. Places where wolves live are natural environments where not only humans but all living creatures can live in peace.
This work is about a world where humans and animals live together in harmony.

Yusuke Asai: At first, I planned to make about 400 to 500 pieces. But as I experimented with different colors and firing techniques, I have made more than 4,000! I created this work by carefully selecting about 1,000 of the very best tiles.
All the tiles are handmade, and I put my heart into each one. People from Tsuneishi and everyone involved in the project came to the studio and helped me make them.

Yusuke Asai: We’re all used to seeing traffic mirrors, but with paintings, they look a bit mysterious.
I’d be happy if, after seeing them, you looked at the various things around town and thought, “Things look a little different than usual.” I would like to encourage you to see every day scenery with fresh eyes.

Yusuke Asai: Each tile features a different painting. Since there are so many of them, I think you’ll discover something new every time you pass by.
At first, this place might look like a playground. After passing by a few times—or perhaps when you return as an adult—you find yourself thinking, “This place is really nice.” That’s my hope.

Translation: Junko Kawakami