Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on December 2012
Free-flowing, humorous, and often minimal to the point of absurdity, Zen art is notably free from the strictures of traditional Japanese schools of painting. Buddhist monk Hakuin (1685–1768) was not just a leading Zen master, but also an influential artist—despite not taking up painting and calligraphy until his 60s. “Hakuin: The Hidden Message of Zen Art” is the first large-scale show of his works, usually found in temples across the nation, and tells how Hakuin conveyed Zen teachings through his art.
