Artist: Yasushi Hori
Title: Hindu God
Location: Chittagong, Bangladesh
Date: 2010
Height: Approximately 2.3 m
Material: Stone
Technique: Direct stone carving
Concept & Theme
Hindu God is a monumental stone relief created by Japanese sculptor Yasushi Hori in Chittagong, Bangladesh, in 2010. The work presents a monumental seated spiritual figure carved in high relief, surrounded by a circular halo composed of radiating lines.
The figure is depicted in a calm, meditative seated posture, with the hands resting naturally near the knees. The long hair and beard, flowing robe and symmetrical frontal composition give the sculpture a powerful sense of dignity and spiritual presence.
The circular form behind the figure functions visually as a halo or radiating field of light, emphasizing the sacred character of the subject. The radial lines extend outward from the figure’s head and shoulders, creating a strong visual centre and reinforcing the impression of enlightenment, energy and divine presence.
The composition is deliberately symmetrical and frontal. This gives the figure an almost architectural quality, while the carefully carved facial features, hair, drapery and hands introduce a strong sense of human presence. Hori combines these figurative details with simplified geometric forms, particularly in the circular halo and the lotus-like pedestal beneath the figure.
The sculpture’s white stone surface further contributes to its spiritual character. The relatively smooth treatment of the body and face contrasts with the more subtly textured surrounding stone, allowing the central figure to emerge clearly from the background.
Although the work is identified simply as Hindu God, its imagery can be understood more broadly as an exploration of spirituality, meditation and the relationship between the human figure and the divine. Rather than relying on elaborate ornamentation, Hori uses posture, symmetry, light and stone to communicate a sense of serenity and transcendence.
The lotus-like base is particularly significant within the visual language of South Asian spirituality. The lotus is widely associated with purity, spiritual awakening and transcendence, symbolically rising above the material world. Combined with the meditative posture and radiating halo, it reinforces the sculpture’s contemplative character.
The work also reflects Hori’s ability to adapt his sculptural language to different cultural environments. Created in Bangladesh, the sculpture engages directly with the region’s religious and artistic traditions while retaining the artist’s characteristic approach to monumental stone carving and simplified human forms.
Overall, Hindu God is a solemn and contemplative work that transforms a block of stone into an image of spiritual stillness, inner strength and divine presence. Its frontal composition, meditative figure and radiant halo give the sculpture a timeless quality, bridging Japanese sculptural practice with the spiritual imagery of South Asia.
