My favorite “academic” courses this year have been Asian Meditation Texts and Varieties of Hindu Mysticism—both by Professor Mahony. Although I identify more with the core principles of Hinduism than with those of any other formal religion, I’m currently dating a guy who loves to talk Buddhist thought. So naturally, a few weeks back, I engaged in a 40-minute debate centered on this notecard:
“Form is emptiness; Emptiness is form”
—The Heart Sutra, c. 100 CE
I’m told that if you study the Heart Sutra and contemplate its teachings appropriately, you’ll naturally conclude that the true meaning of that quotation is that emptiness is the nature of everything. Sure, very Buddhist. I maintain, however, that if allowed to stand on its own, the aforementioned quotation equalizes form and emptiness: if emptiness is the nature of all things, form is also the nature of all things–unconditionally and subject to no hierarchy. The labels at 12 and 6:00 on the notecard could be changed to “form” with no problem. This kind of relates to my personal project in art classes this semester…
I set out to expose a layperson’s self-consciously subjective perception of Ātman (the true self–the same essence as the universal reality, Brahman) within small natural objects: a variety of shells; a pine cone. A lofty goal, for sure. I’m unqualified to say whether or not it’s working, but here are some “stage” shots of what’s been happening in Adv. Painting:
Shell 1 (48″x30″):
Interesting tidbit: If you set that painting upside-down, next to Galen’s sexual squid, it looks remarkably phallic. :] Generally speaking though, I think my paintings look more vaginal… I’d hope so. I am a woman, and I don’t have penis envy. But I digress.
Shell 2 (60″x36″):
They’ve each evolved as much again since the last photo, but you’ve got a sense of it.
My goals generally include a limited palette, something along the lines of ambiguous simplicity or clarity, and space. I generally achieve the opposites. I think this says something about my process. But I think I’ve achieved some ambiguity between space and form? (That binary seems easier to grapple with than “emptiness and form.”) So I’m doing OK…
I’ve been feeling severely artistically blocked, actually. But never fear! Look what happened today:
Those are much smaller, and I have no idea what I’m doing. It’s interesting that Galen sees the macroscopic (?) when I try for the cosmos. Early Renaissance: macroscopic/microscopic expresses divinity… Nonetheless, I think for my next piece, I need to go big. And loosen up a bit.
So yeah… A mental map please? I got lost.
2010/03/09 at 5:02 pm
I was shocked to see your blog in bold on my google reader. It’s wonderful to have you back. I hope the blog renaissance continues (wouldn’t this be so much more appealing if it weren’t called a blog? it’s such a blahhhh name)
I was reading Journey to the West (classic chinese fiction..based on some reality) which is essentially about Buddhism, but also Taoism and a bunch of other things. I wrote a Chinese paper on the Heart Sutra and its various manifestations in the story. Unfortunately given my elementary chinese, the analysis was quite elementary too. I was just trying to the reach the 1000 character minimum. Anyway, I am saying that I have some clue as to what you are talking about, but I don’t get it yet…..and how do you come to experience it?
Also, I think the art is impressive. Progression shots are always so cool. I miss that about oil paint, the layering and layering of it. I love the ambiguous/abstract form of shell 2!
I miss you too liz! When will we talk again?