This sculpture, titled Missing River, was created in 2006 in Hoi An, Vietnam, by Japanese sculptor Yasushi Hori as part of the Hoi An Sculpture Symposium “Hoi An Variations” (Biến tấu Hội An 2006).
Artist: Yasushi Hori. He is a renowned Japanese stone sculptor who has participated in numerous international sculpture symposia in Vietnam and around the world.
Title: Missing River (3.3 m L).
Material: Marble.
Location & Date: Created during the Hoi An Sculpture Symposium in Hoi An, Vietnam, in 2006.
Concept & Theme: Missing River is inspired by the Hoai River, the branch of the Thu Bon River flowing through Hoi An, and by the artist’s personal connection with Vietnam. Hori spent approximately one month in Hoi An before developing the concept, reading about the town and meeting local people to understand its history, culture, and character.
The sculpture consists of two contrasting stone masses joined together. The smooth, dark stone represents the flowing Hoai River, with its undulating surface evoking the movement of the Thu Bon River. The rougher brown stone represents the land, the streets, and the gentle people of Hoi An. Between these contrasting masses is a carefully polished horizontal surface, described by Hori as representing the life of the land and the reflection of Hoi An’s peaceful sky. A smooth cylindrical stone element passes horizontally through the composition, visually connecting the two opposing masses.
The title Missing River also carries a deeply personal and cultural meaning. The Hoai River is associated with the idea of longing and remembrance, while for Hori, who has Vietnamese heritage through his mother, the work expresses a profound emotional connection to Vietnam. The sculpture therefore becomes more than an abstract representation of a river: it is a meditation on memory, belonging, landscape, and the enduring connection between people and place. Its contemporary geometric language is combined with what Hori described as an inner voice rooted in Vietnamese identity and East Asian culture.
