Phase of Nothingness

Phase of Nothingness (1969 to 2012) is part of Nobuo Sekine’s long-term investigation into material presence and the ways perception shifts when natural and industrial elements are placed in direct relationship. The work consists of a polished square column that reflects its surroundings and a large natural stone positioned above it. From a distance, the reflective column appears to dissolve into the landscape, while the stone seems to hover in space, creating a visual tension between weight, balance, and suspension.
Sekine described works in this series as readymade or found objects, noting that their meaning arises from the encounter between materials rather than through alteration. He traced the concept to an early experience observing stones being lifted during the construction of Japanese gardens, where a simple change in position transformed how the stone was perceived.
Installed within one of the plazas of Sports Boulevard in Riyadh, surrounded by landscaped walkways, planting, and pathways for pedestrians and cyclists, the artwork introduces a highly polished vertical surface and a river stone into a setting characterized by Salmani-inspired architecture and outdoor recreation. In this context, Phase of Nothingness invites viewers to reflect on presence, absence, and how changing urban environments influence the perception of form and material.