1987, Suda Kokuta, Dōgen -- National Museum of Asian Art (Washington)
From the museum label: Suda Kokuta turned calligraphy into action painting, helping bring the ancient art form into the post-World War II avant-garde. Beginning in the 1980s, Suda often prepared the paper with broadly brushed white pigment streaked with ink, resembling a gouache. Since this dries very quickly, he could soon write his calligraphy on the paper without the ink bleeding into it. This process creates tension between the underlying brushwork on the paper surface and the intense black of the painterly characters. Dögen was one of the first Japanese monks to bring Chan practice to Japan, where it was known as Zen, and his depiction here showcases Suda's own study and practice of the religion. The box below accompanies the painting. The artist inscribed it and likely chose the fabric mounting as well, completing the artwork.
1987, Suda Kokuta, Dōgen -- National Museum of Asian Art (Washington)
From the museum label: Suda Kokuta turned calligraphy into action painting, helping bring the ancient art form into the post-World War II avant-garde. Beginning in the 1980s, Suda often prepared the paper with broadly brushed white pigment streaked with ink, resembling a gouache. Since this dries very quickly, he could soon write his calligraphy on the paper without the ink bleeding into it. This process creates tension between the underlying brushwork on the paper surface and the intense black of the painterly characters. Dögen was one of the first Japanese monks to bring Chan practice to Japan, where it was known as Zen, and his depiction here showcases Suda's own study and practice of the religion. The box below accompanies the painting. The artist inscribed it and likely chose the fabric mounting as well, completing the artwork.