Japanese Zen Art and Calligraphy Exhibit at the New Orleans Museum of Art:
Having walked through the Japanese Zen Art and Calligraphy Exhibit at the New Orleans Museum of Art before reading anything about it, I was surprised to learn that the ink paintings, especially some of the character sketches, were centuries old. Many seem very modern.
The exhibit, "The Sound of One Hand: Paintings and Calligraphy by Zen Master Hakuin" is the first exhibit in the Western word devoted to Hakuin. He is credited with first posing the famous Zen riddle: What is the sound of one hand clapping?
Hakuin greatly influenced Zen in teaching and art with his innovative visual language according to NOMA. He lived from 1685 to 1768.
The 77 scrolls are hung in a dimly lit, understated, appropriately zen-like gallery, along side poetic translations and enlightening explanations. The expressive sketches depict Japanese calligraphy, gods, folklore, everyday life, Zen themes and philosophical allegories such as the ant circling a grindstone.
In the middle of the exhibit, visitors can try their virtual hand at Japanese ink drawing with wet brushes on a kind of brush-a-sketch.
The exhibit is just one of several currently at the museum, in addition to the art on permanent display. The museum is also featuring its Japanese art collection during the Zen scrolls exhibition.
The museum has a variety of special events in connection with the Zen exhibit:
On the public opening day, February 11, there is an exhibit walk-through at 6 pm and a Japanese tea ceremony at 7 pm. Taiko drummers from Houston will play in the Great Hall from 5:30- 8:30 pm.
Saturday (Feb. 12)will feature a 2 pm lecture, a 3 pm walk-through, and more Taiko drumming at 4 pm.
Exhibit walk-throughs will also be conducted on March 11 and April 15 at 6 pm, as well as February 25 and April 1, at noon.
Tea Ceremony demonstrations will be held on February 11, February 25, March 11 and April 15, at 7 pm.
Japanese film screenings are scheduled in the museum's Sterm Auditorium as follows:
February 25 at 7 pm - Rashomon
March 11 at 6:30 pm - Yojimbo
April 15 at 6:30 pm - Tekkon Kinkreet anime film
An artist demonstration of Japanese Wood Block Printing is set for March 11, 5:30 -7:30 pm.
"The Creation of Zen Calligraphy" lecture and demonstration will be held on April 8, 6:30 – 8 pm.
The exhibit runs from February 11 to April 17, 2011.
The exhibit, "The Sound of One Hand: Paintings and Calligraphy by Zen Master Hakuin" is the first exhibit in the Western word devoted to Hakuin. He is credited with first posing the famous Zen riddle: What is the sound of one hand clapping?
Hakuin greatly influenced Zen in teaching and art with his innovative visual language according to NOMA. He lived from 1685 to 1768.
The 77 scrolls are hung in a dimly lit, understated, appropriately zen-like gallery, along side poetic translations and enlightening explanations. The expressive sketches depict Japanese calligraphy, gods, folklore, everyday life, Zen themes and philosophical allegories such as the ant circling a grindstone.
In the middle of the exhibit, visitors can try their virtual hand at Japanese ink drawing with wet brushes on a kind of brush-a-sketch.
The exhibit is just one of several currently at the museum, in addition to the art on permanent display. The museum is also featuring its Japanese art collection during the Zen scrolls exhibition.
The museum has a variety of special events in connection with the Zen exhibit:
On the public opening day, February 11, there is an exhibit walk-through at 6 pm and a Japanese tea ceremony at 7 pm. Taiko drummers from Houston will play in the Great Hall from 5:30- 8:30 pm.
Saturday (Feb. 12)will feature a 2 pm lecture, a 3 pm walk-through, and more Taiko drumming at 4 pm.
Exhibit walk-throughs will also be conducted on March 11 and April 15 at 6 pm, as well as February 25 and April 1, at noon.
Tea Ceremony demonstrations will be held on February 11, February 25, March 11 and April 15, at 7 pm.
Japanese film screenings are scheduled in the museum's Sterm Auditorium as follows:
February 25 at 7 pm - Rashomon
March 11 at 6:30 pm - Yojimbo
April 15 at 6:30 pm - Tekkon Kinkreet anime film
An artist demonstration of Japanese Wood Block Printing is set for March 11, 5:30 -7:30 pm.
"The Creation of Zen Calligraphy" lecture and demonstration will be held on April 8, 6:30 – 8 pm.
The exhibit runs from February 11 to April 17, 2011.
