Aiko Morioka Statement Statement  |  Resume  |  Biography  |  Portfolio A secret door to hidden potential opened the first time I touched clay. I work intuitively and rarely have a plan, but rather let my hands release the image concealed in the clay. Nature, the human form and themes based in ancient wisdom are a recurring presence in my sculptures. I am intrigued by the surprise of evolving shapes and how a simple shadow becomes a story. The clay is symbolic of the self; malleable, constantly changing, locked within…a potential awaiting manifestation. It is the metamorphosis. The caterpillar becomes the butterfly. My sculptures almost always tell a story whether it be narrative or the portrayal of an emotion which provides a window into the soul. I love the grace of all things in nature and the human form above all remains the most versatile and tangible expression of emotion. It can tell a story, capture a moment in history or simply delight with its’ grace of form. I cast in bronze and sculpt in stone, but clay remains my touchstone in the world of light and shadow. It is where all things begin. Aiko Morioka