From Japan to Cuenca with no other language than that of ceramics

Yoko Ueno is a sculptor of Japanese origin who came to the city of Cuenca four months ago without knowing that it existed.

"My country is very far away, I did not know Ecuador, I only knew that from here they were bananas" Yoko said laughing.

She has been immersed in the art world since she was a child, so she takes inspiration from music such as jazz and tango.

"I love its rhythm and sound, it's very calm, it moves me," said the sculpture.

She has more than 35 years of experience in the world of design, her fascination for sculpting pieces in 3D has crossed borders becoming part of exhibitions in countries like United States, Germany, among others.

The Japanese sculptor first studied Graphic Design and then Interior Design and has been a teacher in different universities around the world, one of them the International University of Suriranca where she was a design teacher for some years.

Yoko is here in the city to teach a pottery workshop at the University of Azuay jointly with CIDAP, as Yoko says that Cuenca is a city that is surrounded by traditional ceramics such as making pots and that she comes to teach mold the figure of the human body.

The sculptor does not speak the Spanish language and is currently learning English, but still says that it is not necessary to talk, that the body and hands know what they have to do.

Yoko will remain in Cuenca for a few more months, then return in two years to put a pottery workshop in the city.