God of Wealth: What a Deity Statue can Represent to a Family

God of Wealth and Fortune

My parents came to America from Vietnam to search for their American Dream. Just like most immigrants who come to this country, they all strive to be financially successful. Both of my parents work day and nights, even if that means not being able to attend our graduations or important school events. Their love for us is what motivated them to continue to endure many obstacles, in hopes that my siblings and I would not have to go through the similar struggles they had faced in their country. It is common for Asian families to display a statue of this god and worship him within their homes. As the god of wealth, it is believed within Asian culture that by worshipping he would embrace you with his wealth and fortune. The god stands there surrounded by his gold and wealth and his lavish and decorative traditional clothing shows us how mighty and powerful he is. The lucky bamboo is perfectly placed alongside the deity. His smile is a reminder that money could give us happiness and fortune that we all had longed for. However, money would not make up for the time lost that my parents could have spent with us. The money would not heal the distances created between my parents and I. Neither would it solve the struggles my parents had already endure in order for us to at least be financially comfortable. It is my siblings and my duties to show our gratitude by becoming the source of wealth for our parents. The statue will be a reminder for us to become the provider for my parents, who have yet to be blessed by the god of wealth.

City Boy

by Powell Art | June 8, 2018 | Shrines | 0 Comments

The city is crowded with not only people but also noises and distractions that fills the air. However, those who grow up in those type of environment can appreciate the chaotic noises as if it is music to their ears. Within the various pictures that hang around the boy, may seem like a disorganized mess, but are an actual subtle representation that is associated with the concept of the urban lifestyle. The picture of the building reminds you of the skyscrapers that consume the...

Fanning Away the Outside Noises

by Powell Art | May 19, 2018 | Shrines | 0 Comments

The statue that reflects the relationships between a husband and his wife What may seem like a lover's quarrel is instead a tender moment between a husband and his beloved wife. Although they face away from each other with piercing gazes, their vision eventually meet and so does the future that they see in the distance. The saying “words coming in one ear and out the other” is not the scenario for this couple. The wife covers one ear with a fan to retain the conversation and lends...

Three Faces

by Powell Art | June 8, 2018 | Shrines | 0 Comments

There is a Japanese proverb that regards to a person’s identity. That saying goes like this, humans have three faces, which means that the first face is what you show to strangers that you come across. The second face is what you show to those you love such as your close family and friends. The third face is what you show only to yourself. This is the truest representation of you. The crystal statue of the woman also has three faces. The woman’s face in the left is what she shows...

Progress Awaits: The LGBTQ community

by Powell Art | July 9, 2018 | Shrines, Uncategorized | 0 Comments

The LGBTQ community has been struggling to make steady progress throughout the years with the growing acceptance within the American society. However, for the progress of the acceptance of the LGBTQ, there need to be changes. These changes lie within our perspectives and approach for the normalcy of the community. In order to create changes, we must think and follow different paths or roads that have not been thought of or have been created before. The vibrant and colorful wheels of the bike...

Shrine of the Flower Boy and the Chinese Vase

by Powell Art | May 15, 2018 | Shrines, TermiteTV projects | 0 Comments

The Shrine of the Flower Boy and the Chinese Vase is about the joining of the innocence of boys and the recognition that the Flower vase is a vessel on love and seduction. The Boy is perched on the vase like a mother holding up her son as a gift to the gods. He is still young enough to play in her fertility and bath in her love. Đền thờ của Flower Boy và Vase Trung Quốc là về sự tham gia của sự vô tội của các chàng trai và sự công nhận rằng bình hoa là một tàu...

Santa and the Two Vases

by Powell Art | May 16, 2018 | Shrines, TermiteTV projects | 0 Comments

Santa arrives with his sack. This is a shrine about vessels and joy. A vessel is mother. It is place we go to be nurtured and replenished. We generally are rewarded with gifts and joy from both Santa's sack and mother's vessels. Ông già Noel và hai chiếc bình ông già Noel phía sau tấm quà của ông già Noel, ông già Noel đến với bao của ông. Đây là một ngôi đền về tàu thuyền và niềm vui. Một con tàu là mẹ. Đó là nơi chúng ta được nuôi dưỡng và bổ sung. Chúng tôi thường được thưởng...

Life is like a Bike

by Powell Art | June 8, 2018 | Shrines | 0 Comments

The white faded bike is a representation of life Albert Einstein had said “Life is like riding a bike. To keep your balance you must keep moving”. It is important to stroll through the various experiences you will or had in life and to not dwell on the past. If you were to put the brakes on your bike, it would be impossible to keep your momentum. As we continue to move forward, we try to find our own path while balancing the different types of responsibilities that weigh on our...

Shrine of the Blonde, the Cock, and the Electric Service

by Powell Art | June 10, 2018 | Shrines | 0 Comments

Our sense of power comes from being served. We fantasize of service from the female, the blonde maid with bountiful fruit at all levels of her presence, and the male cock, with his warrior like speech and sexuality. We are constantly measuring our power. Yet outside of the internal struggle for power and dominance sits the fawns waiting to be nurtured from the emerald glow of the vase and mother nature.

The Faded Statue of a Woman: Inevitable Changes that Happens to Everyone

by Powell Art | July 19, 2018 | Shrines | 0 Comments

The statue of the older woman looks as if she blends in with the surrounding. As the years of her youth slowly goes by, she loses her vibrancy in her appearance and in her mind. The responsibility of becoming an adult had worn her out. The older a person becomes, the less amount of freedom they truly have. It is a result of being tied down to responsibilities such as work, family, and earning money. Children would not have to care for these things because they have their parents...

A Statue that Differs from the Expectations of Light and Dark Colors

by Powell Art | August 1, 2018 | Shrines | 0 Comments

The dark face of deity’s contrast with the white surroundings. As a result, the statue draws in the attention to the details and intricate designs of the deity. The color black not only contrast with the white surroundings but also with the typical connotations that are associated with those colors. White is seen as the color of purity and holiness whereas, the color black is seen as sinister and dangerous. Whereas this somber statue shows no sign of a menacing atmosphere. The...

The Bride in the Red Dress

by Powell Art | July 11, 2018 | Shrines | 0 Comments

The bride is in an extravagant traditional Chinese wedding dress for women. In western and modern culture, white has been the traditional color for the brides to wear. However, red symbolizes good luck in Asian culture, which is why the brides would wear the bright color. Marriage is an important aspect of growing up, and it is also commonly expected of a couple before they officially start a family together. The idea to proclaim your love for one each other in front of your...

Meditation on a Back Porch

by Powell Art | May 16, 2018 | Shrines | 0 Comments

A Buddhist temple is the place of worship for Buddhists, the followers of Buddhism. They include the structures called vihara, stupa, wat and pagoda in different regions and languages. Temples in Buddhism represent the pure land or pure environment of a Buddha. Một ngôi chùa Phật giáo là nơi thờ phượng cho Phật tử, tín đồ Phật giáo. Chúng bao gồm các cấu trúc được gọi là vihara, bảo tháp, wat và chùa ở các vùng và ngôn ngữ khác nhau. Đền thờ trong Phật giáo đại diện cho vùng đất...

Big Lots Budda

by Powell Art | May 15, 2018 | Shrines, TermiteTV projects | 0 Comments

Big Lots Buddha: Big Lots Buddha ôm lấy thế giới thặng dư. Thặng dư biểu thị cả sự giàu có và kỳ vọng chưa hoàn thành. Dư thừa của chúng tôi là lợi nhuận của bạn. Nếu không có dư thừa, chúng tôi sẽ không có cọc để tái chế hoặc tìm cách sử dụng và ý nghĩa mới cho những thứ trong cuộc sống.

Mother Nature

by Powell Art | May 20, 2018 | Shrines | 0 Comments

The world is surrounded with nature, she is an unstoppable force that is far beyond our human control. Her power is to protect and take care of her children with her love. The beads that the mother holds in her hands are the seeds of which she uses to plant. She has the ability to create and grow more plants to nurture the earth. Without her love and mysterious power to continue nurturing this planet, it would be impossible to maintain balance that are crucial to our survival. She...