In Buddhist thought, even the gods who dwell in the heavenly realms are understood to exist within the cycle of birth and death, just as humans and animals do.

They, too, are born, live their lives, and eventually reach the end of that existence.

When I began to think of the gods in this way, beings that had once seemed distant suddenly felt much closer to me.

And I began to wonder:

Perhaps even gods once had a time when they were innocent babies who knew nothing of the world.

Before people prayed to them.
Before they took on their roles and destinies.
Before they even knew who they would one day become.

The Baby Series began with my imagination of the gods during this innocent stage of their existence.

The first work in the series is Baby Asura.

In Buddhist art, Asura is well known for his three faces and six arms. Originating in ancient Indian mythology and associated with conflict and battle, Asura was later incorporated into Buddhism and also came to be depicted as a protector of Buddhist teachings.

But what I wanted to paint was Asura long before he became that powerful figure.

A little baby with six tiny arms, proudly holding all of his favorite things at once.

Instead of the weapons he would traditionally carry, I placed his favorite toys in his hands. In others, I gave him lotus buds.

The lotus, which rises from the mud to bloom beautifully, symbolizes purity and awakening in Buddhism. In these unopened buds, I also see the potential of a being who has yet to grow and blossom into what he will one day become.

Baby Asura knows nothing of the future that awaits him.

He does not yet know conflict, suffering, or what it means to protect others.

For now, he is simply rather proud of having six arms. With his hands full of his favorite toys and lotus buds, his slightly mischievous, self-satisfied expression seems to say:

“Look how much I can hold!”

Even those who will one day carry great meaning and responsibility may once have known a moment when they were simply innocent and carefree.

Baby Asura was born from imagining that small and precious moment.