Exhibition by Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens
2021/4/7
PAINTING ENLIGHTENMENT(May 8, 2021 – September 19, 2021)
Iwasaki Tsuneo (Japanese, 1917-2002) Candle Light Ink and paint on paperProvided by Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens
“Painting Enlightenment: Experiencing Wisdom and Compassion through Art and Science”, features works by Japanese scientist and artist Iwasaki Tsuneo (1917-2002). Upon retiring from a career as a research biologist, Iwasaki expanded his own practice of copying sacred texts, called shyakyō – a form of devotion with a long history in Japan. In his unique process, instead of separating the verses written into vertical blocks, he reconfigures them into images such as DNA, lightning bolts, bubbles, atoms and ants. He created this artistic practice to express the intricate relationship between science and Buddhism. The resulting paintings create a contemplative journey and meditations on the interconnectedness of the universe.