KOBO Seattle | since 1995
Enso (円相), literally “circle painting” has its origins in a meditative practice by the adherents of many schools of Buddhism. The practice is focused on the moment of actually painting the circle, done without thought, premeditation, or attachment. This state of mind is called mushin (無心) literally “no mind” or “no thought”. It is the experience of the writing that is the intention and the physical record of ink on paper, a secondary artifact.
A central element of the idea of acting with “no mind” is the direct experience, in this case with the brush on paper, without analysis or judgment. Yet, at the same time, over centuries, countless Buddhist masters and adherents have also written exhaustive texts on these ideas.
A number of these works are titled Enso and Commentary (円相と解説) embracing the inherent tension between the goal of direct experience and the intellectual propensity to gain a deeper understanding through analytical thought. In these works, the commentaries are written in meaningless Western and Eastern scripts, often suggesting a palimpsest from earlier thought.
The meaning of the Enso has been interpreted widely. It has been said to encompass the entire universe, or possibly the opposite, encircling vast emptiness (無). Some say it evokes the impermanence of the physical world, the brushstroke having a clear beginning and end. Still others say it is the moon, or maybe a rice-cake. Your call.
– Tommer Peterson, November 2024
