Lion Dog Sculpture

Emerging from a 13th century Kamakura tradition to guard shrine sanctuaries from ill intent, the sacred lion dog returns as an serene modern entity by Damian Ardestani and Surrealium. The seated guardian figure is modeled in plaster, refined by hand, and built up with rich oxblood red undertones. Crushed black obsidian crusts the head and back in a dense mineral growth, so the animal looks grown rather than carved. Heavy in the hand, it holds an otherworldly stillness, crafted as a surreal sculptural object for a room that runs to shadow.