Two peacocks, one blue and one white, are depicted facing each other with their magnificent feathers fully unfurled. The white peacock embodies the spirit of the Ho-oh (phoenix), a legendary auspicious bird, while the blue peacock was conceived as its resonating counterpart.

The title, Shichisai (Seven Colors), refers to colors that are never fixed, but instead shift and transform into countless hues within the transition of light. The feathers, crafted from gold leaf, catch the ambient light and quietly change their expression depending on the viewer’s perspective and the passage of time.

The feathers in this work were created using Kirikane, a traditional technique used to adorn Buddhist statues and paintings with intricate gold leaf patterns. Approximately 20,000 individual strips of gold were applied. By layering four types of foil with different alloy compositions, I sought to express subtle gradations of color and a sense of profound depth.

Peacocks have been painted since ancient times as symbols of good fortune.

It is my sincere hope that here, in the sacred grounds of Mount Koya, these two peacocks facing each other will become a presence that quietly watches over the peace and well-being of all.