Buddhism as Philosophy
Featuring works by: Myrthe Biesheuvel, Kalam Dhari, Chris King, Oleg Khe, mariefrances3@gmail.com, Michelle Exhales, O, Sudhir, Liset van Dommelen
Arranged by: Jennifer Teo
This selection of artworks is an exploration of what constitutes “Buddhist artworks” by artists who do not consider themselves Buddhists. Whether they profess to other faiths and religious practices, Buddhism is seen as aligning with their belief systems, a useful tool to reflect on life, and/or simply a source of inspiration.
(Read more about whether Buddhism is a religion, a philosophy, or a way of life)
Tibetan Prayer Flags (2022)
Chris King
71 x 84cm
Cardboard, latex paint
This piece is a byproduct of the process to create this year’s installation at The Boundless Way Temple “Buddhas Over Worcester” outdoor art installation.
While I was painting the fabric for the flags, I carefully placed each flag in sequence on a cardboard sheet to catch the overspray to create this artwork. When I look at this work, I see the earth yellow colour first and feel as if I am looking up, through the water green, the heat of the red sun interacting with the white air and wind, and then into the blue space of our vast universe.
Then I played with the brush around the edges of the piece to replicate woven cloth patterns and to experiment with various colour interactions.
Tight rope walk of Buddha (2022)
Sudhir Pillai
143 x 114 cm
Acrylic on canvas
According to Buddha, the root cause of suffering is attachment . The symbol of pig ( ignorance ), snake ( aversion ) and the rooster ( affection) binds a man to Maya and suffering . The default mode of life is ‘dukkha’ and the only goal of the man is to reduce his suffering and not chasing happiness. The image of Buddha walking through the attachment evokes same sentiments as the the tightrope walker in the first chapter of ‘ thus spoke Zarathustra’ by Neitzche. That’s why he is the supreme overman
(Ubermensch)
Awareness exploring series (2020)
liset van Dommelen
50 x 110cm (or longer)
Charcoal on rice paper
The tree rubbing in the photo has been too much damaged during the trip (living in a small VW van has its challenges). I myself will go on printmaking outdoors (dead animal prints and rubbings from trees, buildings etc). After a few year of focusing on my awareness and sharpening my senses, I will go further on focusing to ponder on a Thich Nhat Hanh quote: “If you touch one thing with deep awareness, you touch everything.” while printing.
The photo with the tree rubbing is made in Sweden 2020 during the first year of the pandemic. The rubbings are made all over Europe, and I have other versions of tree rubbings to start to test the guided meditations that I am working on.
The drawing is glued on a very light stick, making it easier to transport. The guided tree meditation comes with it on a A4 piece of paper.
Transition (2021)
Mythe Biesheuvel
20 x 15cm
Oil paint on MDF
I paint landscapes with a dreamlike quality to them. In search of a deeper dimension I explore the border of realism and surrealism, creating places of liminality. My paintings touch on themes of escapism, the unconscious, and I am concerned with humanity's relationship with nature.
Untitled (2022)
Oleh Khe
Digital drawing
Born among lush flowers, surrounded by the smells of drunks, similar to the bends of sprouts… I decorated our stale forest, where nothing grew but soot-black trunks. And with coloured footprints she made her way to the shores of the oceans. And now my songs rustle like leaves on the tops of dense heads.
Untitled (2019)
Kalam Dhari
27.2 x 42cm
Pen and ink drawing
This is a self portrait depicting an innocent, beguiling, all encompassing and ever empathetic soul as a black dot. The layers surrounding it are the layers of protective walls like flexible impregnable membranes. As the layers progress it is stressed and pressure-tested during various instances of everyday life (symbolized by the sharp corners). Of these instances some leave a lasting injury. But the soul remains intact and undamaged by these instances.
Blue Light (2021)
mariefrances3@gmail.com
60 x 90cm
Acrylic and fabric installed on wood
Blue is the colour of peace and tranquillity which we all strive for. It represents the journey of spirit towards illumination and evolution.
Untitled (2021 and 2022)
Michelle Exhales
12.8 x 18.2cm
Bilateral graphite pencil drawings
Many people have heard of and do written morning pages (as described by Julia Cameron in her book called 'The Artist's Way'). Well, I have been doing what I call drawing morning pages. I sit down to the journal page and draw whatever stream of consciousness visual needs to come out. I do this after I have done a breath meditation with my eyes closed. I use both my left and right hands. Sometimes for as little as 10 minutes. Sometimes I have more time to play. Sometimes the drawing is finished in one morning. Sometimes the drawing is completed across several days. Sometimes I draw in the evening too. The drawing tells me when it is finished. It is a feeling of completion and that nothing more can be added. It is also a feeling of tension and that progression is still possible. I also do written morning pages and what I call verbal morning pages where I speak into my phone. All of these practices are on and off. Sometimes I have a good run of doing them every single day. Sometimes I do them every other day. These drawings are from the periods of a few months in 2021 and 2022 where I drew in only one journal with only three pencils (Blackwing brand). There was a lot of upheaval in my life at that time and I did not want to have to make any more decisions. This is in contrast to my usual practice which is full of different colours, materials, textures and experimentation. During this season of my life, when I had finally had time, I just wanted to sit down to draw freely without any hesitation. It was really enjoyable to get to know these materials - with their limitations and their manifoldness - so intimately.
Untitled (2020)
O
50 x 60cm
Acrylic and crayons
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