Lesser Bilby (Leather Sculpture)
Ships from Japan.
This sculpture by Haruka Miyamoto resurrects the lesser bilby (Macrotis leucura)—a small desert marsupial once found in central Australia, officially declared extinct in the mid-20th century. Known for its large ears, pale fur, and delicate presence, the lesser bilby lives on here through imagination and craft.
Entirely hand-assembled, the creature’s form is shaped from leather and fabric. The body is composed of finely layered leather strips, mimicking the soft density of fur. Its long, upright ears—rendered in supple black fabric—give the figure alertness and character, while the wooden limbs and snout ground it in the tactile world of sculpture.
With eyes closed and posture attentive, the animal appears both watchful and withdrawn—a memory embodied, a being caught between disappearance and revival. Miyamoto’s signature blend of material sensitivity and imaginative realism breathes dignity into this lost species, reminding us of what once was and what still might be remembered.
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