Art as Meditation

A recent sojourn through the galleries of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston offered a look at many, many amazing exhibits. One that has stuck with me: “Seeking Stillness,” a collection of works by various artists that all utilize art-making as a means of introspection and/or a clearing of the mind. 

The work of a Korean artist by the name of Ha Chong-Hyun was particularly memorable for its utter simplicity and, yet, complete richness of texture - achieved partly by using raw burlap instead of primed canvas and laying down the paint very thickly. And, the piece on display is large, something like 5ft by 6ft, a scale that allows the viewer to really get immersed.  One can truly imagine a sense of calm focus in the brush strokes. 

All of this appeals to me greatly. Surprise, surprise. It’s right up my contemplative alley.

“Seeking Stillness” runs until September 3, 2018.

An example of Ha Chong-Hyun’s work: Conjunction 09-52, 2009 Oil on canvas 51 3/16" x 63 3/4"