Guanyin

Guanyin which means “Observing the Sounds (or Cries) of the World"

is the Chinese name for Avalokiteśvara, the bodhisattva of compassion as venerated by Buddhists from east Asia.  Though commonly portrayed as female and known as the Goddess of Mercy, this sculpture (modeled on the famous Water and Moon Guanyin in the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas) shows the deity as a male figure.

I like the challenge of gilding these small sculptures, however, smaller is often more difficult as the detailing needs to be more precise. With so many surfaces to finish it is easy to miss areas which then require re-gilding which of course takes more time and more metal-leaf!

Finished in fine gold, red gold, green gold, palladium-gold, platinum, white gold and silver.

Cast resin

17 cms / 6 ½ in.

Gilt Bronze Sculpture

Bodhisattva

This contemporary gilt bronze sculpture of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara is modeled on one of the most magnificent statues ever found in the Buddhist world.

The Bodhisattva sits gracefully leaning on one arm in a position that combines two standard poses; lalitasana and rajalilasana (literally in royal ease languidly, relaxed and sensual), a knee-up and leg-down posture that was first portrayed in bronzes from Sri Lanka. The sculpture displays the kataka mudra, a fist like mudra in which the fingers bend together until the thumb and the index finger meet, forming an open tube. This position is frequently used in icons in which fresh flowers or other venerated objects are inserted. The empty space in the center of the hair-piece was probably originally inset with a figure of a Buddha. Combined with the blissful calm of his serene repose is a sense of naturalism conveyed through the great care given to detailing the hair, toes, fingernails and the half-closed but alive eyes.

The original masterpiece was discovered in 1968 at Veragala Sirisangabo Vihara, Allavava, Anuradhapura District in Sri Lanka. Cast in solid bronze, with a height of 49.8 cm and dated to the late Anuradhapura Period of the 8th-9th century, it is now on display at the National Museum in Colombo. Carol Radcliffe Bolton, assistant curator for South and Southeast Asian Art at the Smithsonian writes... ”the (original) gilt bronze image of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara has been hailed as a masterpiece not only of Sri Lankan and Buddhist art, but of World Art. Indeed, its consummate grace and beauty in all details merit such praise.”

The sculptor Jeevan Shakya from Patan, Nepal has now cast 2 versions. This smaller one, approximately 12 cm or 5 inches high, comes with a gilt (12 karat white-gold) bronze “rock-throne”. The larger one is 22 cm or 8 inches high. Jeevan is currently working on the wax model for a life-size version. The gilding is completed in the traditional way by laying fine goldleaf over a specially prepared lacquer.