Jump to Navigation
Gallery: The enlightening world of Buddha-inspired designs

Gallery: The enlightening world of Buddha-inspired designs

Laughing Buddha belly tattoos and Jabba the Hutt Buddha arm chairs -- Buddha's inspiration is spreading in all sorts of ways

The All-Seeing One is a common sight in Asia (and other parts of the world). At times, his image appears in the strangest of contexts. Here’s a round-up of Buddhas that might make you do a double-take.

Laughing Buddha belly tattoo


If you’re cursed with a Buddha belly, you might as well wear it with flair. At the 2009 Seattle Tattoo Expo, a man showed off a front-and-back tattoo of jolly Siddhartha. Do you think rubbing his belly brings double the luck?

 

Buddha-Jabba-Mao armchair


English artist Gerald Scarfe created a chair titled “Chairman Mao.” (Get it? Chair?) But the amorphous face and belly are as much inspired by Buddha. Or Jabba the Hutt.

 

Forbidden: climbing the headless Big Buddha


The Big Buddha (Wat Phra Yai) in Koh Samui, Thailand is a popular destination for tourists. And, so it seems, rabble-rousers that try to scale headless monuments.

 

Bite into a karma-friendly pear


Now that’s a “pear shaped-body”: Chinese farmer Gao Xianzhang experimented for six years until he could grow baby Buddhas from trees. Each pear is encased in a plastic mold until maturity, when it sells for US$10. I wonder if these fruits are good for both spiritual as well as physical health.

 

A gold polyester suit to disturb


The caption for this gold Buddha get-up is: “Bring good luck and fortune to your next costume party!” I’d re-write it as: “Drive all your friends away with terror and loathing.” The pendulous ears, the nipple detail… shudder. US$89.99 from BuyCostumes.com 

 

Zen parking lot


Parking can be stressful -- so a Buenos Aires car lot plopped the Buddha’s name and meditating figure over the gate. A blog reader comments: “Maybe they charge less, but require a Zen koan in return?” 

La Carmina writes about Harajuku pop culture and all things spooky-cute. She is the author of three books about Japanese pop culture and food, including "Cute Yummy Time" and "Crazy Wacky Theme Restaurants: Tokyo" -- for which she did all the photos and illustrations. Both books were released in October, accompanied by a U.S. major city book tour.

For more, please visit her website.

Read more about La Carmina

Read more on the CNNGo app for iPhone / Android / Nokia now!

Get the latest travel and lifestyle news and views from across Asia. Discover more about your city with the best in local coverage and perspectives. Find out where to shop, play, drink, eat and escape - www.cnngo.com/mobile