Antiquities is a work I developed in 2000 as a personal statement at the end of the century. I wanted to portray significant figures of the 20th century and emphasize the importance of not letting them be forgotten. I have included those from the political arena, as well as music and the arts, and those with a strong personal meaning as well. The weathered appearance of the heads suggests that they have been excavated from 20th century stratum several thousand years in the future.

All matter erodes over time, as do our personal memories and perceptions. This is a continual theme in my work. My hope is that we find a way to keep their spirit and memory alive in our information-saturated modern society, that the remembrance of life may be rekindled paradoxically through the suggestion of death.

Tsuguo Yanai