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May 28, 2014

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Finding peace and tranquility in Buddhist art

SINCE ancient times religion has had a profound influence on art. In China, Buddhist art is categorized separately due to its philosophical meanings.

The Hangzhou Buddhist Academy Art Exhibition at Amanfayun until July 27 showcases 80 paintings, calligraphies and seal cuttings by 25 Buddhist artists from the Art Department of the Hangzhou Buddhist Academy.

Calligraphic works feature Buddhist scripts and ancient poems, while the paintings are portraits of Buddha or traditional landscapes.

“We hope to share the most pure and authentic cultural experience of Fayun Village and Hangzhou in a non-commercial way,” says Yuko Yanagimoto, business development manager at Amanfayun, who is also the curator of the exhibition.

Since 2012, Amanfayun has been curating art exhibitions with the Hangzhou Buddhist Academy, which is near the resort.

“Amanfayun and all the artists who have cooperations with us in the past share the same passion — to learn from ancient wisdom and recreate traditional beauty with our own hands in this modern world,” she adds.

Each piece exudes a sense of peacefulness and serenity. The Zen-like atmosphere of the resort contributes to the calm feeling that pervades the show.

Unlike other calligraphy works usually doing the rounds on the art circuit, the pieces at this exhibition are in a neat script style. They eschew the trend for cursive or wild, flashy styles so prevalent today.

Most of the paintings feature very thin brush strokes, a nod to Buddhism’s desire for simplicity.

The Hangzhou Buddhist Academy’s Art Department is China’s first Buddhist institute specializing in fine arts majors. The institute’s goal is to contribute to improving and enriching the nation’s Buddhist culture.

Date: Through July 24

Address: 22 Fayun Lane

Tel: (0571) 8732-9999


 

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