Miki was part of a generation of artists who addressed social and political shifts in Tokyo following the end of World War II and the United States’ occupation of Japan. The human ear became the dominant subject of the artist’s sculptures. Miki often cast his ears in aluminum, as in this work, in which the body part appears in neat rows and at life-size scale. Although the artist once dreamt of being assaulted by hundreds of ears on a train, he denied any symbolism, saying instead: “I can hardly say I chose the ear. More precisely, isn’t it that the ear chose me?”

Gallery label from

2023

Medium Cast aluminum
Dimensions 21 3/8 x 19 x 1 1/2" (54.3 x 48.2 x 3.7 cm)
Credit Philip Johnson Fund
Object number 607.1965
Department Painting & Sculpture

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