Mother and Child sculpture

Public Art: Mother and Child sculpture

Sculptor: © Mikio Yamauchi  (Yamauchi Takeo) August 12th,  1907 – April 11th, 1975

Date Unveiled: 1959

Description: The white cement sculpture features a mother embracing a young child.  The mother is seated  with protective arms wrapped aound the child who is standing between her lap. The faces are featureless, symbolising that the bond between mother and child is universal and has no particular look.

Location: The Mother and Child statue is located in South 12-west West 4-chome, Nakajima Park (East of Lagoon Pond).

Things You May Not Know About The Mother and Child sculpture: The sculpture was originally located in the corner of the fountain in the Hakuen Garden in the park but was later relocated to the scented plaza.

Could this statue be inspired by the mythical Japanese Bakeneko. In Japan they are known as the monster cats? These once domestic kitties change as they age. They can grow to the size of humans and walk on their hind legs. Sometimes they take the form of their owners. If the cat is happy it will place a napkin on its head and dance. if it isn’t happy…well beware.

Vandalised: On the night of June the 16th, 2007 during the Sapporo Festival the Mother and Child statue was deliberately tipped over. A few days later vandals returned and placed fireworks in the eye sockets and setting them off,  blackening the cement. So horrified by the damage a group of volunteers spent  many hours restoring  the statue .

Acknowledgements: A special thank you to Silvie Bee for kindly trudging through the snow, in the dead of winter. to snap these photographs.