Space, Art & Quiet Gardens

The theme of CR Oswin Gartside's talk at Mirfield Monastery. Space!

Statue of Kuya, a Buddhist monk

Fr. Oswin Gartside

*Image from my talk. This is Shoko Kanazawa writing kanji with help from her mother

One of my own ink works from my art residency at the monastery in 2012

*Contemplative use of sumi ink by Thich Nhat Hanh

A thank you offering that was given to me after my talk. My first one ever..

Mirfield Monastery main building

A teepee I found on the grounds! It was being readied for a wedding

Inside the teepee

Monastery grounds

One of many paths on the 23 acres of land surrounding Mirfield Monastery

These are some pictures from my recent talk at the Quiet Garden day at Mirfield Monastery. It was interesting and quite eye opening to hear Fr. Oswin Gartside's talk about Japanese art and space from his point of view. I learned a lot about the history of Japanese art through the eyes of the "hidden Japanese christians" during the persecution era.

I myself am not Christian, but having lived much of my life in Japan, my section of the talk focused on introducing the Japanese concept of space through the culture of Sumi ink and Shodo.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Thank you so much to Mirfield Monastery for inviting me.

 Note: *Asterisk marked images of Thich Nhat Hanh & Shoko Kanazawa courtesy of internet.