Wood Incense Holder <IWA>_√595

This work is by Yoshihide Minamino, a contemporary artist living on Awaji Island.

Tabunoki (Tabanus tabanus) is described in the Book of Japan as “a tree in which a spirit dwells” and is said to have been closely associated with Shinto rituals since ancient times. It is also used as the main material for incense, and this incense burner has a soft and pleasant texture.
CUBE 595 was cut from the thorn of the Yurayama Shrine on Awaji Island, which was destroyed by a typhoon, and was made to resemble the tree's original form, thus inheriting its life force.

IWA is a piece cut from CUBE595 and is a cube of about 3 cm (shape varies from piece to piece).
(The shape varies from piece to piece.) Its unique shape gives it a name that evokes a natural scene.