"The Great Wave Off Nakamoto" - Hand Carved Relief

I carved this relief to capture the steadfast calm I feel as a Bitcoiner, no matter how turbulent the fiat storm. Inspired by Hokusai’s iconic "The Great Wave off Kanagawa," this piece is my attempt to bring that famous wave to life through the rugged beauty of reclaimed slate. This particular stone is a joy to work with and has a beautiful blue-grey color.

Over the course of three months and using hammer and chisel, I shaped the stone’s surface to echo the layered textures of traditional woodblock printing, where each carved area—rough, smooth, or rippling—creates distinct shades in the slate. These textures evoke a spectrum of colors that shift with the light, much like the vibrant energy of Hokusai’s original print. For the guiding light of the Bitcoin moon, I used 24k gold leaf. The Bitcoin symbol is always present there, but it remains subtle and not easily seen from a distance. Gold leaf also decorates the sail of the Ark as it rides the waves, in a nod to Knut Svanholm's well known Bitcoin meme, "Everything divided by 21 million." Like Bitcoin, this carving is my expression of hope and self-determination in the turbulent sea of fiat-derived instability that surrounds us.

Hokusai’s "The Great Wave off Kanagawa," created around 1831 as part of his Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji series, inspired my work with its depiction of a towering wave overwhelming small boats, Mount Fuji serene in the distance. As a masterpiece of ukiyo-e art, it speaks to me of nature’s raw power and humanity’s resilience, themes that resonate deeply with Bitcoin’s defiance of fiat chaos. Its bold lines and dynamic energy, influenced artists worldwide, and in my case, drove my effort to capture a sense of strength, motion, and serenity in stone.

Note, this carving does not come with hanging hardware installed. A French cleat can be added and I am happy to discuss other hardware options depending on the buyer’s preference.

Due to the high value and the nature of stone, the shipping costs include professional wood crating as well as expedited shipping.