Impermanence

With an earlier shot (see note) I outlined what makes the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) so unique in Australia. MONA also differs from almost every other Australian museum and gallery by allowing photography (no flash though). Marvellous!

The lady in red is examining what was probably my favourite piece, the "Berlin Buddha". This is a two-part artwork, the nearer component being a very substantial aluminium and steel mould to create the second half facing the camera: a large Buddha (the head apparently came off when cast) made by Zhang Huan from over eight tonnes of incense ash collected from shrines in Shanghai.

It is called the Berlin Buddha because a version was first made in Berlin in 2007. The casting reflects Buddhist teachings about life and death, from existence to nothingness - and (intentionally) is slowly crumbling away, as seen by the surrounding ring of ash on the floor (see the inset note).

Best viewed on black (press 'Z').