A work by YURIKO YUCO YOSHIKAWA.

Title: Ginga no Yoake (Galaxy Dawn) | Created in 2024

This one-of-a-kind tapestry is handcrafted using Shibori, a traditional Japanese dyeing technique with over 500 years of history. Each piece features a unique pattern that can never be replicated — a singular work of art born from the hands of a Japanese artisan. Made from natural cotton fabric in Japan.

The Story Behind This Work

How far can the human hand reach into the infinite? This work was born from a profound challenge the artist set for herself: to express — through her own hands and techniques — the boundless, infinite world that stretches far beyond the reaches of the universe. At the centre of the composition, the sun and a dragon rise together — ascending through the vast darkness of the galaxy, soaring toward a luminous future. It is not merely a scene of beauty, but a vision of hope: a world where light breaks through the infinite darkness, and all things are drawn upward toward brightness and possibility.

There is a Japanese proverb: Onko Chishin — "by revisiting the past, one discovers new knowledge." This work embodies that spirit. The fabric itself began as a completed, fully dyed yukata — a garment already finished in its original form. The artist chose to completely disassemble it, returning it to its raw state as a bolt of cloth, in order to begin again. She studied how the existing dyes had penetrated the fabric, then applied Shibori binding and dyeing over that foundation. From there, she reconceived the entire composition — joining four panels of fabric together, and building the image of Galaxy Dawn layer by layer.

Techniques

This work combines three distinct techniques: Shibori-zome forms the base, creating the deep, layered colours of the galaxy. The sun and dragon are then rendered using stencil technique, adding precise form to the composition. Finally, the Milky Way flowing through the centre is applied using spray, giving it a soft, luminous quality that evokes the glow of distant stars.

The Art of Shibori — A Technique That Demands Mastery

In Shibori dyeing, the areas that are bound or tied resist the dye and remain undyed — creating the characteristic white spaces that define the pattern. This means the artist must envision the finished work entirely in their mind before a single drop of dye touches the fabric. Only through this rare combination of technical skill and artistic intuition — refined over years of practice — can a work of true beauty emerge.

Details

Construction — Four panels of fabric carefully sewn together; several weeks to complete
Size — 136 cm × 138 cm (53.5" × 54.3")
Material — Cotton / Dyed with synthetic dyes

Care

Hand wash only. Store away from direct sunlight. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight may cause fading. Please note that washing may cause the spray-applied and stencil-applied areas to fade — handle with care.

This tapestry has a rod pocket at the top. Hanging rod not included — suitable for rods approximately 140–145 cm (55"–57") in length.

Packaging & Shipping

Each artwork is carefully wrapped in PAT-certified archival tissue paper (ISO18916:2007) — the same standard used in museum and cultural heritage conservation — before being hand-packed by the artist in museum-quality archival packaging and shipped via DHL with full insurance and international tracking. This item is folded for shipping.

Domestic (Japan) — Yamato Transport or Japan Post, with tracking number.
International — DHL or EMS with international tracking and insurance. A tracking number will be provided after dispatch.

Free worldwide shipping.

Certificate of Authenticity

Each artwork ships with a signed Certificate of Authenticity and bilingual Care Instructions, confirming its originality as a one-of-a-kind creation by YURIKO YUCO YOSHIKAWA. → Learn more about our Certificate of Authenticity

As each piece is a one-of-a-kind handmade artwork, we do not accept returns or exchanges.

One-of-a-kind / Handmade in Japan / Cotton

Prices are displayed in your local currency for reference. All orders are processed and charged in Japanese Yen (JPY).

A singular work of art — one of a kind in the world.

In Shibori dyeing, the way the fabric takes colour changes with every bind. Even following the same process, no two patterns can ever be identical.

This is not a mass-produced object. It is a singular work, born from accumulated time and mastery.

The price reflects its rarity and the value of its creation.

This is art that chooses its owner — made for those who understand its essential worth.

A presence unlike any other, worthy of your space and your sensibility.

About the Artist

Yuriko Yuco Yoshikawa is both an artist and a Registered Nurse — a rare combination that shapes everything she creates.

For decades, she stood at the threshold between life and death, witnessing pain, dignity, and quiet moments of grace. She held the hands of those departing. She understood, more deeply than most, what it means to be alive.

When she set down her nurse's uniform and took up her brush, that knowledge did not leave her. It became her art.

Every work she creates carries that gaze — the gaze of someone who has truly seen what a human life is worth.

As a nurse, and as an artist — her deepest wish is to bring love and light to every person in the world.

Her works have been selected and awarded at over 15 international exhibitions across Japan, France, Spain, Monaco, and Italy. A formally recognised member of the Art Maison Selecting Committee (A.M.S.C.), Spain Headquarters — an international arts organisation spanning France, Japan, and Spain — her name is permanently inscribed on the monument "LA VOZ DEL ARTE PARA CALMAR EL MUNDO" (The Voice of Art to Calm the World), erected in Puebla de la Sierra, Madrid, Spain. Her work is featured in Art Maison Vol. 30, published in 2026.

Each work is one of a kind. Once sold, it is gone forever.
Additional award-winning works are available upon private inquiry.

View Artist Profile & Exhibition History

Exhibition History — This Work

• 49th Aichi Prefecture Bunren Art Exhibition (November 2024) — Selected: Dawn of the Galaxy

Questions Before You Purchase?

For high-value, one-of-a-kind works, we warmly welcome any questions you may have before placing your order — about the artwork, materials, shipping, or anything else. Please do not hesitate to reach out via our contact form or directly at info@yurikoyuco.com. We will respond within 2 business days, with care.

Please note that import duties, taxes, and customs fees are the responsibility of the buyer and are not included in the product price.