Seeking Dharmic Art (1/30/23)
“Dharmic art” is my experience in response to viewing and contemplating an object. Therefore, this is a subjective quality. This writing will be a series of exercises by which I attempt to understand and describe Dharma through the process of describing and contemplating artwork.
Trungpa Rinpoche said that “Genuine art - Dharma Art - is simply the activity of nonaggression”. This statement emphasizes process (“activity”) and absence of struggle (“nonaggression”). Artwork flows from the conjunction of time, skill, effort and open-mindedness. This approach seems to emphasize process over product, but I intend to spend time viewing artworks and considering their dharmic aspects, and so my approach will be product oriented for the time being.