Material: Collage, ink, gouache, 24k Gold leaf, and 23.44k gold paint on transparent paper and silk layers. Framed in layers of Poplar wood frames.

Dimension: 101 x 54 x 8.4 cm

Details:
Another work from the series “Origin,” Enlightenment, gives an impression of the history of the Heian period Buddha statues displayed in the RISD museum. The work presents how the museum takes away the statue’s original settings, form, function, and spiritual and cultural values, turning a sacred spiritual figure into an object for display.

Expressing the Statue's meaning was the main focus of this project, based on the museum’s information: this sculpture depicts Dainichi Nyorai, which is the pure body state of all Buddhas. Dainichi Nyorai symbolizes the purest light, the sunlight of the Universe. In Buddhist temples, this statue is usually worshipped as the central figure along with four other Buddhas representing the four courses of the Universe or displayed between the Moonlight Bodhisattva and Sunlight Bodhisattva.

Across cultures, light is an ancient symbol of enlightenment and knowledge. Almost universally, light has been known for hope or conquering sinister and darkness. Therefore, light and dark are the primary mediums of this sculptural painting. It is used to show how the work changes in different lighting states.