“Enso Transformed”
Original Abstract Painting, 2021
Medium: Sumi Ink, Acrylics and Mixed Media on Canvas.
Size: 60cm x 60cm
TRUE STORY OF SYNCHRONICITY ON CANVAS
Enso as Inspiration
Enso Research and Artist’s Practice
It all begun with Enso, a symbol that the artist discovered when learning shodo (the art of Japanese caligraphy) during lockdown 2020. Also known as the Zen Circle or Circle of Enlightenment, it is considered the pinnacle of Zen Buddhism. Empty yet full, infinite and complete, the caligrapher’s hand draws it in one breath, with no corrections permitted afterwards. It is the ultimate exercises of clearing one’s mind and achieving a higher consciousness state where the circle brushes itself, with very little effort and control by the artist. The true creative spirit takes over and the work creates itself beyond anyone’s expectations.
The artist has been fascinated by the Enso from the first moment she heard about it. She become brushing Enso daily and took lessons from the Japanese caligraphy teacher and artist, Rie Takeda. After a year of practice and research, the subject has outgrown the traditional process in black and white, and become an idea for an abstract painting in colour.
Synchronicity on Canvas
When the artist set out to create an Enso-inspired contemporary art work, she wanted to paint the whole canvas in the intuitive, shodo way; removing myself from the process while igniting viewers with magic on canvas.
When the painting started with Enso (brushed in one single breath and no corrections afterwards), it accidentally manifested as a snake, without artist's intention or awareness. For over a month, colours and effects were added around it. Only once the work was finished and revealed to close friends, the resemblance was pointed out to the stunned artist.
To further amplify this coinsidence, the final result is reminiscent of the ancient Ouroboros symbol, showing a circular snake eating its own tail (as a symbol of life and death). Yet in this case, the snake is no longer eating its tail. It represents a "wake up" moment in life. The circle has been broken and transcended into something completely new.
The art work aims to remind a viewer about magic in life, illustrating it with a true story of synchronicity on canvas.
Press Features:
2022 Circle Spotlight, Contemporary Art Magazine, Issue 30 (Print Magazine and Online)
2022 Al-Tiba9, Collectors’ Book 2022 (Print Magazine and Online Interview)
Available as original Original Abstract Painting, Limited Edition Print on Paper or Print on Dibond Aluminium.