This sculpture, titled Milky Way, was created in 2014 in Korea by Japanese sculptor Yasushi Hori.
Artist: Yasushi Hori. He is a renowned Japanese stone sculptor who has participated in numerous international sculpture symposia around the world.
Title: Milky Way.
Material: Granite.
Location & Date: Created in Korea in 2014.
Concept & Theme: Milky Way explores the relationship between humanity, nature, and the vastness of the cosmos. The sculpture is composed of a massive, roughly worked granite block supported by two stone forms, while a large, dark, highly polished sculptural element emerges from and extends across the upper surface. Beneath the central opening, another dark geometric form descends toward the ground, creating a strong sense of suspension and balance.
The contrast between the rough natural granite and the smooth, dark polished stone is central to the work. The untouched areas preserve the geological character of the material, while the polished surfaces appear fluid and almost weightless, evoking the movement of celestial bodies through space. The long, flowing form across the top can be read as a representation of the Milky Way itself, stretching across the stone landscape like a cosmic river.
The central suspended form introduces another dimension to the composition, suggesting a celestial body or a human presence caught between earth and sky. The work therefore creates a visual dialogue between gravity and weightlessness, earth and cosmos, permanence and movement. Through the combination of monumental stone, organic curves, and geometric balance, Hori transforms the solid mass of granite into an image of the universe in motion.
The title Milky Way reinforces this cosmic interpretation, suggesting that the sculpture is not simply an arrangement of stones but a meditation on the connection between the earthly world and the infinite universe. The work reflects Hori’s broader sculptural approach, in which natural stone becomes a medium for expressing human existence, spirituality, and humanity’s place within nature and the cosmos.
