TAOGRAMS

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gestural + calligraphic expressions

Life can only be found in the present moment.
—
Thich Nhat Hanh

While working with Japanese Sumi ink (or Chinese ink) I’m particularly interested in the movement of the brush and the trace this gesture leaves on the paper. A calligraphic and gestural approach that is deeply rooted in the Japanese traditions Shodo, Zenga, Bokuseki and Hitsuzendo; but also relates to Abstract Expressionism (post–World War II art movement).

A lot of artworks in this ongoing collection are based on Chinese characters and Japanese kanjis, however I’m using the same approach for signs, symbols and abstract concepts as well.

I don’t limit myself to actual, readable language – my focus lays on the gestural expression, the state of mind and the final composition.

This way the drawing becomes a depiction of a certain energy (Qi) at a certain time. Like a snapshot of the ongoing flow of Tao, or a symbol of the theme or word I was contemplating about.

I therefore call this kind of work taograms, unlike pictograms, logograms or ideograms which would refer to predefined, written language and signs only.

Tao (道) is a fundamental concept in Taoism, representing the natural way of existence, the underlying principle that encompasses harmony, balance and the interconnectedness of all things. The word Tao translates as way, path, road, doctrine, principle, truth or flow; but its meaning goes far beyond that; as Laozi said: The Tao is "eternally nameless" …

Shodo (裛道), Japanese calligraphy, is not only an artistic, but also a mindful and meditative activity. Sho means ‘to write’ and do translates with ‘the path, or the Tao’. 

Hitsuzendo (筆禅道) translates with ‘way of Zen through brush’ and is believed by Zen Buddhists to be a method of achieving samādhi (unification with the highest reality). The aim is to free one's mind and heart of any disturbances, to get in a state of ‘no-mind’ while focusing only on the meaning of the character you write. Becoming one with what you create, essentially, is the philosophy behind hitsuzendo.

Zenga (Zen monk’s art) is the term for the practice and art (painting and calligraphy), created by Zen Buddhist monks. Ga (画) is the Japanese word for picture.

Bokuseki (湋鍻) translates with ‘ink trace’, and refers to a specific style of Zenga. It is a form of active meditation, whereby bold, expressive and often abstract brush strokes are brushed with a single breath, representing the calligrapher’s pure state of mind in a single-moment (nowness).

Taogram Paintings

The Taogram collection also includes the following series, exploring specific, related aspects of the original concept:

Tracks

The Track series focus on the movement of the brush and the trace this gesture leaves on the paper. An approach all pieces from the Taogram collection have in common; but in this series I pay attention to create the art in one single, abstract gesture – as pure and minimal as possible.

Taogram Prints

All prints in this minimal print series are based on original, gestural ink drawings (Taograms), which I later digitally alter and rearrange.