The
imagery in this 20th century Thai marble statue creates a powerful fusion: the
presence of the Shakyamuni Buddha and the alchemical peacock. In Buddhism, peacocks
are a reflection of great bodhisattvas in that they have the ability to transform
poisons---ignorance, desire and hatred---and transform them into enlightenment
that opens gracefully as the peacock's gorgeous tail.
This
statue is hand-painted in mustard, red and green. There is a symmetrical alliance
in form and countenance of both the Buddha and the peacock. This Buddha has attentiveness
and peace. His hands are gracefully arched in the Earth witness mudra. Symbolically
this is a potent statue a colorful representation of the art of Thai Theravada
Buddhism.
