|
Process
One of the primary influences on my rust
enso is Zenga, the painting and caligraphy practiced by zen monks for several
centuries. Zenga were created not for art's sake nor at the bidding of wealthy
patrons, but rather to aid meditation and to lead one toward enlightenment. The
style of brushwork is dramatically bold, seemingly impetuous, and bluntly
immediate in effect. The translation from mind and spirit to paper is
immediate and stresses simplicity and depth of spiritual expression.
To me, the most profound subject in Zenga is the enso. Nothing could be more
simple than the basic circle, usually depicted in a single
|
seemingly imperfect brushstroke. The
circle is seen as the all, the void, and enlightenment itself. The power of
the enso lies in its elimination of the non-essential, achieving greatest
impact with the least of means. Instead of brush and ink, the rust enso are
created by the process of corrosion. The process of Nature reclaiming our
fabrications. Much like traditional enso, the precise outcome is never wholly
predictable. Like the pattern of cracks in raku, the end result is largely
left to chance. In my case, the shape of the piece, or pieces, of metal dictate
the size and basic composition. The final texture and pattern of a given piece
are ultimately indeterminate.
In the end, my purpose is to create works that illuminate the simple things
that give pleasure and provoke consideration of the fragile balance of our
lives.
--Josef Szuecs
 |
 |