Jiai (Benevolence)

Her left hand in Abhayamudra, "do not fear"; her right hand in Varadamudra, "mercy upon you" – this sculpture Jiai (Benevolence) demonstrates compassion and motherhood. In this sculpture Kato Gizan reflects his great sympathy for the current pessimistic world state contending with wars, unstable political status, global warming, and COVID-19 pandemic. Employing Buddhism sculpture making tradition from mid-Heian period (11th century), Gizan aims to demonstrate a contemporary kannon, who prays for universal peace and symbolizess the spirit of overcoming hardships with compassion. Praying is an action exsited prior to written characters, and the artist considers, even admist the ongoing separation of modern life with accelerated technological advancements and religion, which is never experienced by any generation before us, people continue to pray. Praying links the present with the past, and this sculpture links humanity with Buddhism, the sacred spirit that dwelled over thousands of years.