AIR Artist-in-Residence

Stone carving residency under Masaji Asaga.

       Iwase Rock Museum, Sakuragawa, Ibaraki prefecture, Japan

       Novermber 2014

The Magatama (勾玉) are curved, comma-shaped beads that date back to prehistoric Japan, roughly from 1,000 BC to the 6th Century AD. These small, ‘jelly bean’-shaped carvings were originally made from primitive stone and earthen materials, but by the end of the Kofun period, they were almost exclusively crafted from jade. Initially, Magatama served purely as adornment and jewelry, but over time, they became integral to rituals and religious ceremonies.

The original intent behind the shape of the Magatama remains unclear. Evidence suggests various interpretations, ranging from the tooth of an animal to the image of a fetus curled inside the womb. Many believe this ambiguous form can represent whatever one wishes, and it is this open-endedness that inspired me to create my own version of the Magatama—one that, like the original, remains unaware of its true meaning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Magatama baby’ hand carved object/seat, donated to the Iwase Rock Museum.
Granite – 850mm x 1,300mm x 900mm.
Roughly 1 tonne