APD[week10]: Play and Stillness

Rationale

For this week theme, I got the inspiration from Jizo (地蔵), the patron saint of travelers. In Japan, there is the sect of Buddhism that believes in spirit, Jizo statues were placed along the path as protections for travelers. In every season, especially winter, people give Jizo a wool hat or scarf like they have their own lives. Jizo can represent the stillness; however, with in the stillness there is some senses of activation of the environment around them, such as season change, growth of plants, the destruction, or the circulation of ecosystem. These conditions convince the feeling of the statues that they are alive and have been there for their duty for long time.

Response

I create the animation of napping Jizo by using Maya. My intention is to reflect the stillness and spiritual of the character, while make it simple and play with the sense of humor.

Context

The similar work of creating the character that represent the stillness is Grandmother Willow – Disney, Pocahontas (1995). The other inspiration came from the Pet Rock, the product which made in 1975.