1996 – Japan
Three illuminated boxes with hand-carved lipstick sculptures
Overall dimensions: H 27 × W 67 cm
Created in Japan in 1996, Lipstick Buddha consists of three small seated Buddha figures, each carved directly into the lipstick itself and presented in an illuminated box.
The work brings together two seemingly distant worlds: beauty and spirituality, the intimate gesture of applying lipstick and the contemplative presence of a sacred figure.
Thirty years later, the original sculptures remain unchanged, retaining both their delicate forms and their original colours. Their remarkable preservation challenges conventional assumptions about the durability of unconventional artistic materials.
The sculptures were subsequently reproduced in bronze as a limited edition, extending the original concept into another material while preserving the forms carved into the lipstick.
