MEDITERRANEAN CONFERENCE CENTER
July 3–5, 2026 

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Chiyomi Hirakawa

平川千代美

Chiyomi Hirakawa is a Japanese dyed textile artist and a member of the Japan-Europe Palace Art Association.
Her works have been exhibited not only throughout Japan but also in countries around the world.

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 Prayer 

 祈り 

Artist’s Statement

One day, I noticed a caterpillar feeding on the plants in my garden. Although I have never been fond of caterpillars,
I realized that it was the larva of a butterfly and decided to leave it undisturbed.
Ever since then, whenever I see a butterfly, I am reminded of that small creature.
A caterpillar, despite its humble appearance, eventually transforms into a beautiful butterfly.
Around that same time, my grandchild underwent a major operation due to a serious illness.
Having attended church since childhood, I continued to pray with all my heart for their recovery.
The journey was long, but my grandchild gradually regained health and now lives a happy and active life.
I am deeply grateful for this blessing. With that sense of gratitude, I continue to paint butterflies—symbols of hope, transformation, and renewal.

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Japan-Europe Palace Art Association Commentary

Chiyomi Hirakawa’s textile art is born from a deep sense of prayer and a contemplative gaze toward nature.
The butterflies that appear throughout her work are far more than depictions of the natural world; they serve as symbols of transformation, renewal, and the enduring cycle of life.
The butterflies drift gracefully across the surface of the composition, their delicate movements held within a quiet sense of order.
Soft, layered colors—unique to the medium of textile dyeing—resonate throughout the work, while the intricate patterns in the background evoke accumulated memories, prayers, and the passage of time, lending the image a profound emotional depth.
At the heart of Hirakawa’s artistic practice lies a consistent reverence for life and a deep sense of gratitude. The hope she discovered in the miracle of a caterpillar’s transformation into a butterfly transcends personal experience and gradually assumes a universal significance. Through her work, one senses the sincerity of an artist who continues to reflect upon the preciousness of life with humility and devotion.