MANDALA / M10号

Inspired by the curled forms and commanding presence of komainu, the guardian lion-dogs found at Japanese shrines, this work features a swirling geometric pattern that transforms strength and harmony into a refined visual language. Its defining character lies in the striking interplay between deep black and lustrous purple. Built through numerous layers of color, each layer is carefully developed by Kuwai Hana, who observes the condition of the material and the way it responds to light. As the angle of the light shifts, subtle orchid tones emerge, allowing flashes of purple to appear within the depth of the black. Its expression continually changes with the viewer’s position and the passage of time.

Rather than mechanical uniformity, subtle variations created through years of accumulated sensibility and meticulous handcraft give the work its depth and singular presence. Elegance, mystery, and a rarity that cannot easily be replicated come together in a quietly commanding piece. Each encounter with light reveals a new expression, and the longer one lives with the work, the more its character unfolds. More than an object created simply to decorate a space, it is a distinctive work to be welcomed into one’s personal surroundings and cherished over time, allowing its value to deepen through ownership.