Twelve Hundred Faces (2)

Twelve Hundred Faces (2)

  • 18 x 24 in

This acrylic painting on linen wrapped canvas captures the atmosphere of Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple, nestled in the hills outside Kyoto. The temple’s 1,200 unique stone statues, carved by visitors and sculptors in the mid-20th century, stand weathered and surrounded by lush vegetation. The brushwork reflects this interplay of art and nature, with loose, sweeping strokes suggesting the curves of the hills and moss-covered stones, while smaller, deliberate marks hint at the individuality of the statues—glimpses of faces and forms peeking through the greenery. Layers of texture and soft blending convey the balance between permanence and change, as the sculptures are slowly reclaimed by their environment. Through abstraction, the piece evokes the harmony between human creativity and the passage of time.

March, 2024
Acrylic painting

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