This sculpture, titled Sublimation, was created in 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, by Japanese sculptor Yasushi Hori as part of the Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026 symposium.
Artist: Yasushi Hori. He is a renowned Japanese stone sculptor whose practice explores human origins, destiny, nature, and the evolution of civilization through monumental sculptural forms.
Title: Sublimation.
Material: Granite.
Location & Date: Created during the Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2026.
Concept & Theme: Sublimation explores the idea of humanity’s transformation and evolution through the forces of nature and the universe. The sculpture rises vertically as a sequence of rounded, organic masses separated by broad, floating stone planes, creating a continuous spiral-like movement from earth toward the sky. At its summit, a stylized human figure emerges beneath a circular opening, suggesting transcendence, spiritual elevation, and an infinite connection between humanity and the cosmos.
Hori’s artistic philosophy is rooted in the idea that history and civilization evolve in a spiral, while humanity undergoes a process of transformation through suffering, the recognition of truth, and its relationship with the natural world. The composition brings together the elemental forces of earth, fire, water, wind, and sky, transforming them into a monumental expression of movement and evolution.
The rough granite surface remains visibly connected to the original character of the stone, while the carefully carved organic forms create a contrast between raw geological matter and refined human expression. In the context of Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026, Sublimation becomes a reflection on the continuous transformation of humanity and the world around it.
