Aku, 2024, wood & metal, 18.7" × 17" × 69.5"
A topless female figure adorned with metal earrings, a necklace, and a skirt that is carefully hollowed out from the front. Blending sculptural craftsmanship with symbolic storytelling, the work explores themes of motherhood, protection, spirit, and nurturing. The figure’s head is detachable and can be reattached to the body. Around the waist is a cage-like metal structure that follows the flowing form of the skirt down to the ground, creating the illusion that the figure is suspended in midair. This structural element evokes both protection and vulnerability, enclosing the central space of the sculpture while supporting its delicate balance. Within the hollowed section of the skirt rests a lantern crafted from metal and mounted on a stand connected to the cage-like framework at the base. Unlike the unlit lantern in Death Within, this lantern is illuminated, symbolizing the light, spirit, purity, and innocence of a child sheltered within the embrace and protection of the mother.