Pauline Adamek
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On Saturday, August 13th 2011, LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art, on Wilshire), will host a special Japanese Zen Painting gallery course on Hakuin Ekaku, one of the most significant figures of Japanese Zen Buddhism.
Report by Pauline Adamek
Join LACMA educator Kristin Bengtson for an inside look at Japanese Zen painting. Learn about the most influential Zen artist of the Edo period, Hakuin Ekaku (1685-1768), and discover how Ekaku invented a new visual language for his religion.
The session begins with a slide lecture followed by a private gallery tour of the ongoing exhibition, The Sound of One Hand: Paintings and Calligraphy by Zen Master Hakuin.
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Japanese Zen Painting Talk
Saturday, August 13, 2011
9.00 am
Brown Auditorium,
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles California 90036
323-857-6000 “¢ publicinfo@lacma.org
$35.00 general admission;
$30.00 LACMA members (Parking and refreshments included)
Tickets: 323 857-6010 or purchase online.
About the Exhibition:
The Sound of One Hand: Paintings and Calligraphy by Zen Master Hakuin.
LACMA”™s Pavilion for Japanese Art, East Wing, Levels 1-3
Runs until August 14, 2011
Part 1: May 22-June 28, 2011
Part 2: July 1, 2011-August 14, 2011
Hakuin Ekaku (1685-1768) is widely acknowledged as the most important Zen Buddhist master of the past 500 years. He was also the most influential Zen artist of Edo-period (1615-1868) Japan, but unlike the highly studied monk painters of earlier centuries, he received no formal artistic training beyond the basic skills in handling brush, ink, and paper that were required for everyday writing.
HakuinӪs self-taught, spontaneous, yet masterly and inspired painting and calligraphy, just like his teachings and writings, expressed the mind and heart of Zen for monks and lay followers alike. With the aim of reaching out to people of all social and economic classes, rather than just the ̩lite, he invented a new visual language for his religion, depicting everyday subjects and themes from other Buddhist sects, as well as Zen patriarchs and masters.
For this first exhibition in the West devoted to Hakuin, nearly 80 of his scrolls will be gathered from collections in the United States and Japan. Organized in collaboration with New Orleans Museum of Art, and curated by Audrey Yoshiko Seo and Professor Stephen Addiss.
This exhibition is organized by the New Orleans Museum of Art.
The Los Angeles presentation is made possible by LACMA”™s East Asian Art Council.
Visiting the Museum:
LACMA is open every day except Wednesdays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Regular Hours:
- Monday 12 noon-8 pm
- Tuesday 12 noon-8 pm
- Wednesday Closed
- Thursday 12 noon-8 pm
- Friday 12 noon-9 pm
- Saturday 11 am-8 pm
- Sunday 11 am-8 pm
Getting Here
LACMA is located in central Los Angeles, midway between downtown and Santa Monica, 1/2 mile south of the Grove.
By bus: Metro 20, 720 and 920 on Wilshire and 217, 218 and 780 on Fairfax all stop within half a block of the museum. For public transportation information, call 1.800.COMMUTE or use the Metro Trip Planner. (Enter 5905 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles 90036 as your destination.)
By bike: Visitors traveling by bicycle may wish to plan their route using a bike map. Bicycle racks are located on Wilshire near the intersection of Spalding, and north of the BP Grand Entrance just inside the 6th Street gate.
By car:
From the Santa Monica Freeway (10), take Fairfax Avenue north 2 miles to Wilshire Boulevard.
From the southbound Hollywood Freeway, take Highland Avenue 3.5 miles south to Wilshire Boulevard; take a right on Wilshire and proceed 1 mile west to LACMA.
Park in the Pritzker Parking Garage, on Sixth Street just east of Fairfax Avenue. The charge is $10 and may be prepaid at all Welcome Centers, with credit cards accepted. Vehicles entering the Pritzker Parking Garage after 7 pm park for free.
Valet Parking is available Fridays through Sundays from 11 am-4 pm for $15 on Wilshire Boulevard in front of Urban Light.
Brian Sonia-Wallace
