“Prayer in Autumn Gold” is a calligraphy artwork created beneath drifting golden ginkgo leaves at the end of autumn. In that quiet moment, a single word rose within the artist: “prayer.” Across the world, children continue to walk through rubble with nowhere to go—no shelter, no protection, yet still holding on to life. Their resilience leaves a deep mark on the heart.
MADARA carries the memory of the 2011 earthquake, when he climbed over debris to protect his family. He has faced the fragility of life directly. Nature’s disasters may be unavoidable, but suffering caused by human conflict and war should never exist. This conviction lies at the core of this work.
Born from the wish that even a small light might reach those children, “Prayer in Autumn Gold” represents the moment when prayer quietly transforms into light.
Created with sumi ink on washi mounted on a gesso-prepared wood canvas, each stroke embodies a spiritual passage: the force of the first stroke expresses the will to live, while the soft final sweep carries a hope for tomorrow.
This artwork is both the artist’s prayer and the prayer of those who endure hardship around the world. May it bring a gentle, quiet light into your space and illuminate the emotions that words cannot express.
Read more
What is MADARA?Pen name: Madara (MADARA) Real Name: I refrain from disclosing my real name in order to focus on my work and concepts. Date of birth: May 6, 1972, Fukushima …
Behind the Scenes
The day I wrote “Prayer in Autumn Gold,” the wind was strong and golden ginkgo leaves kept drifting through the air. As I spread the canvas, it felt as if gold was falling from the sky, and within that shimmering light, a single word quietly surfaced in my heart:
Prayer.
A few days before creating this work, I had seen footage of war—children wandering through rubble with nowhere to go. “Why do people cause such suffering to one another?” Perhaps because I lived through the earthquake, the pain caused by human conflict struck me even more deeply.
On the day of creation, ginkgo leaves rode the wind and landed on the washi paper. As I gently brushed them aside and held my brush, the moment the sumi ink touched the paper, the emotions trembling in my chest began to take shape at once.
The powerful first stroke carries the same will to live I felt that day when I climbed over collapsing debris to protect my family. The soft final sweep holds a prayer for tomorrow—for the children who continue to suffer somewhere in the world.
During the entire process, the only sounds were the rustling of ginkgo leaves in the wind and the falling seeds hitting the ground. Within that natural stillness, the pain and prayers inside me gradually dissolved into the air.
And on that very day, one of my beloved family members passed into the heavens. “Prayer in Autumn Gold” is a work that felt less like something I decided to create and more like something that asked to be written through me. Nature, season, memory, and prayer— all of these aligned in a single moment, guiding my brush.
Kanji meaning
“Ki / Inori” (祈) means:
To pray
To offer a heartfelt wish
To hope for someone’s safety or happiness
A quiet, inward form of devotion
The radical “示” represents an altar, symbolizing spirituality and sacred intention. This character embodies a sincere prayer rising from within.
“Hikari / Light” (光) means:
Light, radiance, brightness
Hope
Guidance toward the future
Something that illuminates darkness
Beyond physical brightness, the character also represents spiritual light, renewal, and the presence of hope.
Work details
item
Content
The basis of the work
Wood Campus
Material
wood, Japanese paper（Washi）
Size
F20 28.6in(727mm) × 23.8in(606mm)×0.98in(25mm)
Materials used
Sumi-ink
Finishing the work
The wooden canvas is primed with gesso, calligraphy paper (washi paper) is pasted on top, and the painting is finished with ink.
Regarding domestic and international shipping
・International shipping available: Ships via FedEx if no designated shipping company is specified. ・Domestic shipping in Japan: Ships via Yamato Transport if no designated shipping company is specified.
Packaging at time of shipment
We can also accommodate requests for packaging such as simple packaging and heavy-duty packaging, so please contact us for details.
Shipping
Decisions will be made in consultation with the buyer, such as using transportation suitable for art works and taking out insurance.
Compensation for works
The artwork will be delivered in the same condition as when it was sold. If you would like to purchase art insurance, we are happy to discuss this.
Payment Method
The payment amount is the artwork price plus shipping. Payment can be made by credit card.
Artwork Storage and Handling
At our studio, each artwork is carefully wrapped individually in Japanese washi paper and stored in a climate-controlled room where temperature and humidity are kept stable at all times. The artworks are preserved in an environment protected from light, moisture, and dust, ensuring they remain in optimal condition until delivery.
After purchase, each piece is prepared with specialized protective packaging and shipped with the highest priority placed on safety, both domestically and internationally. A Certificate of Authenticity is included with every artwork.
