Asian art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Asian art - Essay Example Another difference is in the materials used. Simply by taking a detailed look at the Vairocana Buddha, one can begin to notice several significant elements of this piece that distinguish it as a unique piece of art even though it portrays a familiar and often reproduced (in smaller scale) image. Unlike many of the other Buddha statues that are made of a single block of stone, this statue is constructed in such a way that its natural life process has only contributed to its ability to communicate. It is made of hollowed out cedar wood coated, lacquered and then painted with gold leaf or paint. With the lacquer layer working to reflect any light that penetrates through the gold layer, this statue would have gleamed in any kind of illumination, presenting its viewers with a dazzling display of unearthly beauty and light that would chase itself and play along the different curves, angles and lines of the various sections of the piece. It’s approximately life-sized, which gives it an awesome power in its presentation, but also a familiarity and approachability that a larger statue might not have. It invites you to take a closer look and to get to know it on a personal level. The effect of the wearing surfaces, with gold remaining on some areas of the statue but exposed wood appearing in other areas, serves to heighten the experience for me. Although it wasn’t necessarily a part of the original intent, this aging effect immediately conveys the idea of ancient wisdom and abiding endurance.