--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I saw this Broken Kilometer, it…" description: "\"When I saw this Broken Kilometer, it reminded me of these 1,000 Buddhas. That piece is 1,000 one-meter gold rods, and this is 1,000 pieces of gold gild..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/hiroshi-sugimoto-14343_artist_when-i-saw-this-broken-kilometer-it-remi_2450073.jpg" --- # When I saw this Broken Kilometer, it reminded me of these… ![“When I saw this Broken Kilometer, it reminded me of these 1,000 Buddhas. That piece is 1,000 one-meter gold rods, and this is 1,000 pieces of gold gilded wooden sculpture. In terms of design, it's up to the space's character.” quote by Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/hiroshi-sugimoto-14343_artist_when-i-saw-this-broken-kilometer-it-remi_2450073.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/hiroshi-sugimoto-14343_artist_when-i-saw-this-broken-kilometer-it-remi_2450073.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/hiroshi-sugimoto-14343_artist_when-i-saw-this-broken-kilometer-it-remi_2450073.jpg) > “When I saw this Broken Kilometer, it reminded me of these 1,000 Buddhas. That piece is 1,000 one-meter gold rods, and this is 1,000 pieces of gold gilded wooden sculpture. In terms of design, it's up to the space's character.” [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The artwork’s thousand gold rods echo a thousand Buddha statues, highlighting how design reflects space character. **In simple terms:** Design mirrors the space it inhabits. Key Takeaway Design with respect to the environment’s character. Themes design art space character culture Mood contemplative analytical Type conceptual visual When to use this quote - gallery installations - architectural planning - public art - exhibition design Key Concepts materiality scale contextual harmony Questions to Reflect On - What does the space tell you about the piece? - How does scale affect perception? A Different Perspective Interpretation varies with viewer’s cultural background. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [000 Buddhas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/000-buddhas-562479/) [000 Pieces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/000-pieces-562477/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Broken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broken/) [Buddhas Piece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhas-piece-562480/) [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Gilded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gilded/) [Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold/) [Gold Rods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold-rods-562476/) [Meter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meter/) [Pieces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pieces/) [Rods 000](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rods-000-562478/) [Saws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saws/) [Sculpture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sculpture/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) ## Related quotes > [ Many people \[still\] believe that at the time of your death, 1,000 Buddhas show up and welcome you into the paradise state. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/many-people-still-believe-that-at-the-time-of-your-death-1-000/) [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) > [I wanna make a jigsaw puzzle that's 40,000 pieces. And when you finish it, it says 'go outside.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-wanna-make-a-jigsaw-puzzle-that-s-40-000-pieces-and-when-you-finish/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [Regard everyone you meet as the Buddha and you will know 10,000 Buddhas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gampopa/regard-everyone-you-meet-as-the-buddha-and-you-will-know-10-000/) [Gampopa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gampopa/) > [The clothes that fire up my emotions are colorful and 'different' pieces. My eye still picks out gilded-cloque glamour from among Burberry's streamlined trench…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-menkes/the-clothes-that-fire-up-my-emotions-are-colorful-and-different/) [Suzy Menkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-menkes/) > [I tried to be a good wife, but I was lost in my gilded cage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-trudeau/i-tried-to-be-a-good-wife-but-i-was-lost-in-my-gilded-cage/) [Margaret Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-trudeau/) > [Theres something unique about the United States, a sense of individual rights and freedoms, and a sense of social and civic responsibility that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hickenlooper/theres-something-unique-about-the-united-states-a-sense-of-individual/) [George Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hickenlooper/) > [Oft has good nature been the fool's defence, And honest meaning gilded want of sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/oft-has-good-nature-been-the-fool-s-defence-and-honest-meaning-gilded/) [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) > [All that glitters is not gold; Often have you heard that told: Many a man his life has sold But my outside to behold:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/all-that-glitters-is-not-gold-often-have-you-heard-that-told-many-a/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Fair laughs the morn, and soft the zephyr blows, While proudly rising o'er the azure realm In gallant trim the gilded vessel goes, Youth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gray/fair-laughs-the-morn-and-soft-the-zephyr-blows-while-proudly-rising-o/) [Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) > [The gilded sheath of pity sometimes covers the dagger of envy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-gilded-sheath-of-pity-sometimes-covers-the-dagger-of-envy/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“I’m not your gilded prince with the gilded chairs, Letty,” Geoff said simply. “I couldn’t be if I tried.” “I wouldn’t want you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-willig/i-m-not-your-gilded-prince-with-the-gilded-chairs-letty-geoff-said/) [Lauren Willig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-willig/) > [“Have you not sometimes noted, When we unlock some long-disuséd room With heavy dust and soiling mildew filled, Where never foot of man has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/have-you-not-sometimes-noted-when-we-unlock-some-long-disus-d-room/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Sometimes I'm dazzled by how modern and fabulous we are, and how easy everything can be for us; that's the gilded glow of technology,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/sometimes-i-m-dazzled-by-how-modern-and-fabulous-we-are-and-how-easy/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [In the later nineteenth century, the tops of skyscrapers often took the shape of domes, surmounted by jaunty gilded lanterns; later came ziggurats, mausoleums,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-gill/in-the-later-nineteenth-century-the-tops-of-skyscrapers-often-took/) [Brendan Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-gill/) > [The highest perfection of politeness is only a beautiful edifice, built, from the base to the dome, of ungraceful and gilded forms of charitable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-highest-perfection-of-politeness-is-only-a-beautiful-edifice/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) ## More by Hiroshi Sugimoto > [I have a strong feeling about this quick movement and changing of society and populations growing - something scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/i-have-a-strong-feeling-about-this-quick-movement-and-changing-of/) [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) > [If I already have a vision, my work is almost done. The rest is a technical problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/if-i-already-have-a-vision-my-work-is-almost-done-the-rest-is-a/) [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) > [Photography is like a found object. A photographer never makes an actual subject; they just steal the image from the world...Photography is a system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/photography-is-like-a-found-object-a-photographer-never-makes-an/) [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) > [I'm inviting the spirits into my photography. It's an act of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/i-m-inviting-the-spirits-into-my-photography-it-s-an-act-of-god/) [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) > [“We'll drive backwards in what will become your new car to the beach where we first slept side by side. The green waves will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/we-ll-drive-backwards-in-what-will-become-your-new-car-to-the-beach/) [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) > [I feel that I'm in a very interesting position, where I'm standing back to look at this change, at this moment in history of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/i-feel-that-i-m-in-a-very-interesting-position-where-i-m-standing/) [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) > [Life is one passage and then you keep moving into another state. It's like you might be reborn, but the process of being born…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/life-is-one-passage-and-then-you-keep-moving-into-another-state-it-s/) [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) > [ I have no policy for my collection. For example, there's a bunch of meteorite \[on the windowsill in my studio\]. I touch it and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/i-have-no-policy-for-my-collection-for-example-there-s-a-bunch-of/) [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) > [One night I had an idea while I was at the movies: to photograph the film itself. I tried to imagine photographing an entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/one-night-i-had-an-idea-while-i-was-at-the-movies-to-photograph-the/) [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) > [I don't know whether the future or 2018 exists or not, but if it exists, I'm offering a show to a museum in Australia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/i-don-t-know-whether-the-future-or-2018-exists-or-not-but-if-it/) [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) > [The Seascapes are before human beings and after human beings. The Seascapes were there before our presence, and when our civilization is over, seascapes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/the-seascapes-are-before-human-beings-and-after-human-beings-the/) [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) > [My concept was, within the five-minute video, for people to see one million Buddhas. So I made a group of the images and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/my-concept-was-within-the-five-minute-video-for-people-to-see-one/) [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) > [When I wake up I just make it happen. My dreams come true- that is the artistic practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/when-i-wake-up-i-just-make-it-happen-my-dreams-come-true-that-is-the/) [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) > [Not any particular religion or school of religion, but being an artist, you have to be spiritual, in a way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/not-any-particular-religion-or-school-of-religion-but-being-an-artist/) [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) > [I came to California in 1970 and so many people were asking if I was a Buddhist or knew Zen theory, asking if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/i-came-to-california-in-1970-and-so-many-people-were-asking-if-i-was/) [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) [Explore all 47 Hiroshi Sugimoto quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) ## More Artist quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) [Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I saw this Broken Kilometer, it reminded me of these 1,000 Buddhas. That piece is 1,000 one-meter gold rods, and this is 1,000 pieces of gold gilded wooden sculpture. 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