A work by YURIKO YUCO YOSHIKAWA.

Title: The Heavenly Stairway — Eternal Life | Created in 2024

We are born. We live. We grow older.
And one day, death awaits us — as it must.

How do we choose to live our one life?

There are times when we can climb, one step at a time.
Times when we must stop and stand still.
Times when we find ourselves moving backward.
Times when the path takes us far around.

This work holds all of it.

Toward the final destination of a single human life —
everything I have lived until now,
and everything I will live until I die,
is carved into this painting.

And yet — in Japan, there is a concept:
Rinne Tensei (輪回転生) — reincarnation.

The belief that the soul does not end at death,
but is reborn into a new life, again and again,
in an eternal cycle of existence.

If death is not an ending, but a threshold —
what will the next life bring?

That question, too, is held within this work.
That is why it is called: Eternal Life.

— Yuriko Yuco Yoshikawa

This work carries a heartfelt message: that by steadily climbing the staircase of life, one step at a time, a rainbow-coloured future awaits.

The Story Behind This Work

No one knows how long they will live — but the life we are given, until our final breath, is precious beyond measure. This work expresses the belief that each of us has our own staircase to climb: the direction we choose, the height we reach, the pace of our steps, and the momentum with which we rise — all of it is ours to decide, freely and entirely. There may be moments when we pause and stand still. But by placing one foot in front of the other, ascending step by step, our daily lives begin to shine with meaning. The ordinary becomes luminous. And in that light, we find ourselves drawn ever closer to a sense of heaven — a life felt as truly, deeply happy.

A handmade collage artwork rooted in Japanese aesthetics and contemporary sensibility. Created as a one-of-a-kind piece, this work invites the viewer into a dialogue between tradition and modernity. Each element is carefully composed by hand, making every work entirely unique.

The Art of Collage — Intention in Every Layer

Collage is not assembly. It is decision.

This work is built from many kinds of paper — newspaper, coloured paper, wallpaper, wrapping paper, and washi. Each carries its own history, its own texture, its own voice. Together, they speak.

Just as no two sheets of paper are identical —
no two human lives are the same.

Each life is irreplaceable. Each person exists only once, in all of time.

This work is a prayer:
to live that one, singular, precious life
with care — and with all that one has.

Details

Size — 95 cm × 70 cm (37.4" × 27.6")
Material — Newspaper, coloured paper, wallpaper, wrapping paper, Washi paper (traditional Japanese washi paper art), Hand-painted colouring

Note: In 2026, the artist added one edge of a 2026 Japanese newspaper — an article about a festival celebrating happiness and good fortune. A quiet blessing, woven into the layers of this work.

Important — Handling with Care

The layered papers are carefully adhered; please handle gently and avoid pressure or bending.

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 rolled into a tube for careful 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.

Delivered unframed. Free worldwide shipping.

Certificate of Authenticity

A Certificate of Authenticity is included with this artwork. → 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 / Unframed

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.

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

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.