THE BLACK MAKAHALA.

Marküzō reinterprets the Mahakala mask as a force of protection and transformation within Tibetan Buddhist tradition, where it represents the confrontation of fear, desire, and ignorance.

In this artwork, the wide eyes signal awareness, the third eye suggests perception beyond what is visible, and the fangs represent a direct, forceful cutting through illusion. The monochrome palette of black, grey, and white linework heightens intensity and presence, reflecting the growing need for clarity and psychological resilience in a world defined by constant stimulation, distortion, and noise.

Constructed from nearly a hundred pieces of reclaimed, ethically sourced Balinese wood, held together and preserved in epoxy, the work brings a traditional sculptural form into a contemporary context.

The mask sits within a deep circular black frame measuring 1.5m that draws on the deity's name. In Sanskrit, kāla means both "black" and "time," and the frame carries both meanings. The black surround refers to the boundless darkness from which all form emerges and into which it returns, and it gives the white linework its full contrast. 

Because this work draws directly from Tibetan Buddhist cultural and spiritual symbolism, 5% of proceeds will be donated to Direct Relief in support of communities affected by the August 2026 floods along the Nepal–Tibet border, where many families share the Tibetan Buddhist traditions this work draws on. Direct Relief funds local Nepali medical teams delivering emergency care and supplies to villages cut off by the flooding.