Ox Herding

In Zen Buddhist tradition, Ox herding is a metaphor for a spiritual journey. Famous in China and Japan, the Ten Oxherding Pictures are used as illustrations to describe the path from ignorance to awakening, using the imagery of a wandering person who is searching for and eventually finding his or her  true nature.

  • A metallic globe sculpture with a textured surface, mounted on a stand in an outdoor setting with grassy terrain and a partly cloudy sky.

    Seeking the Ox

    Wandering on desolate plains; Believing we are only material beings searching ceaselessly for the way.

  • An outdoor sculpture consisting of intertwined metal wires forming a spherical shape, mounted on a metal pole on a concrete base with a plaque. Small solar panels are positioned on either side of the base. The background shows a street, trees, and a house with a blue sky and some clouds.

    Finding the Ox's tracks

    Discovering all paths lead to the self; Still undiscovered lies the way; Hope now accompanies the pursuit.

  • A spherical sculpture made of dark, feather-like metal pieces mounted on a metal pole, situated on a concrete base in an outdoor garden with a gravel pathway, surrounded by grass and plants, under a blue sky with some clouds.

    First glimpse of the Ox

    Creation Equally blesses all existence; Look inside and see what seems hidden but is always present.

  • A promotional graphic with the words 'Coming Soon' and 'Rikoon Studio' on a background divided into white and dark gray sections.

    Catching the Ox

  • A graphic with the words "Coming Soon" and "Rikoon Studio" underneath, featuring a two-tone background in white and dark gray.

    Taming the Ox

  • Coming soon sign for Rikoons Studio with a minimalist design, divided into a white top half and dark bottom half.

    Riding the Ox home

  • Graphic with white and dark gray sections and text 'COMING SOON' and 'RIKOON STUDIO'.

    Ox forgotten, Self alone

  • Sculpture of a rusty, abstract, spherical shape with multiple rings on a pedestal, located outdoors with a natural landscape and blue sky in the background.

    Both Ox and Self forgotten

    The Ox has disappeared; Inside and outside are the same. No memories or plans are needed.

  • A sculpture of stacked concentric circles on a pedestal outdoors, with a plaque and a large flat stone base, surrounded by desert plants and flowers.

    Returning to the source

    Circles remain unbroken; Centered in endless progression, manifesting our return to the source of all beings.

  • The 10th person - Entering the market place

Text panel titled "The Ox Herding Series" explaining the Zen/Buddhism concept of ox herding as a metaphor for spiritual development, with a circular graphic representing the ox and the journey.

Each sculpture emerges from a drawing, gradually evolving from lines on paper into a living form.

  • An ink drawing of the first sculpture in the Ox Herding series titled "Seeking the Ox".

    Seeking the Ox

  • An ink drawing of the second sculpture in the Ox Herding series titled "Finding the Ox's Tracks".

    Finding the Ox's tracks

  • An ink drawing of the Third sculpture in the Ox Herding series titled "First Glimpse of the Ox".

    First Glimpse of the Ox

  • A ink drawing of the fourth sculpture in the Ox Herding series titled "Catching the Ox".

    Catching the Ox

  • An ink drawing of the fith sculpture in the Ox Herding series titled "Taming the Ox".

    Taming the Ox

  • An ink drawing of the sixth sculpture in the Ox Herding series titled "Riding the Ox Home".

    Riding the Ox home

  • Sketch of the seventh sculpture in the Ox Herding series titled "Ox Forgotten, Self Alone".

    Ox forgotten, Self alone

  • Hand-drawn sketch ofthe eighth sculpture in the Ox Herding series titled "Both Ox and Self Forgotten".

    Both ox and Self forgotten

  • A detailed sketch of the ninth sculpture in the Ox Herding series titled "Returning to the Source".

    Returning to the Source

  • Hand-drawn diagram of circles arranged vertically and horizontally on a sheet of paper.

    The 10th Person -entering the market place

Maquette’s

These maquettes are small-scale studies of my Ox Hering sculpture series, capturing strength and movement in a collectible form. Each piece reflects the essence of the larger works, highlighting the interplay between structure and gesture.

Finding the Ox's tracks Finding the Ox's tracks
Finding the Ox's tracks
$3,000.00
Seeking the Ox Seeking the Ox
Seeking the Ox
$3,000.00
First Glimpse of the Ox First Glimpse of the Ox
First Glimpse of the Ox
$3,000.00
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Catching the Ox Catching the Ox
Catching the Ox
$3,000.00