Buddha statue, broken but powerful by Lisette Rijkers

This picture of Buddha exudes strength and tranquillity. As far as I am concerned, the image also symbolises determination, perseverance and not giving up easily.
There is a story behind this Buddha statue. The statue is broken and weathered. There are several fracture lines in the statue and the Buddha is missing his right arm. Mosses grow on the statue and small animals like to crawl into the crevices of the fracture lines.
This powerful Buddha statue is in my garden. I got it from my parents, both of whom have since passed away.
Close to the house where my parents lived was once an interior design shop. When this shop went bankrupt, the premises were emptied and eventually demolished. Even before the demolition, this Buddha statue stood lonely and abandoned against the outer wall of the closed shop. People had probably forgotten to clean up the statue.
My parents knew that I thought it was a shame that this Buddha was standing there like that. They then took the initiative, without my knowledge, to go and save the statue. In old age (both now in their eighties!) my father climbed over the fence that surrounded the shop. Together with my mother, he hauled the statue home that way and they donated it to me.
Determination, perseverance and not giving up easily, that characterised my parents in their lives!
Therefore, for me, this Buddha statue symbolises these powerful traits, especially since, despite the damage, this statue is still there!

This artwork is offered by Lisette Rijkers

I see making art as a creative process.
The starting point of this process for me is always a photo or a painting of my own. Every work of art on this site is therefore based on a self-made photo or painting.

I find my sources of inspiration in everything around me. For example, objects in and around the house or something from nature. Every object has its own structure and shape. Beautiful lines, patterns and colours can be found everywhere.

My collection contains both abstract and imaginative images, but also realistic photos and a number of paintings.

I have made all of this with great pleasure and I hope that you will enjoy the work of art that will hang on your wall!

Learn more about Lisette Rijkers?

• All artworks by Lisette Rijkers