「Look at the Picture and Talk about the Painting」Kang Jianyi “Manifest Forms of Matter” – The Spiritual Journey of Mind and Ink

When the autumn hues of the Ryosokuin Zen Buddhist Temple blend with the ink tones of Kang Jianyi’s paintings in the corridor, the “Manifest Forms of Matter” exhibition becomes a form of “mind reflecting objects” meditation.

The Ryosokuin Zen Buddhist Temple presents a serene and profound space that embodies the essence and nuances of nature and time through the arrangement of mountains, water, and the overhanging eaves. It is also a manifestation of the artist’s inner world, where form and scene are created, and meaning is conveyed through brushstrokes.He integrates the spatial order of the building into the density and spacing of the ink lines, and infuses the emptiness and tranquility of the Zen temple into the flowing cursive script with blank spaces, allowing the “Manifest Forms of Matter” to transcend the paper surface. It interweaves with moss, maple shadows, and the stone paths and the windows of the tea room.

As he said, “All these myriad forms are merely the accumulation of thoughts.” These thick and solid, flowing like water ink colors not only represent the harmonious portrayal of his half-century of cross-disciplinary endeavors, but also embody the brushstrokes’ force derived from business rational thinking, the restructuring of Taoist and Buddhist concepts in clerical script layout, and more vividly convey the spirit of the “no-boundary” in the temple: identity crossing is no-boundary, the integration of clerical and cursive scripts is no-boundary, and the co-examination of Taoism and Buddhism is also no-boundary.

The viewers stroll leisurely among them, and the brushstrokes and the courtyard scenery merge in their minds, forming a harmonious connection. Eventually, they come to understand that “Manifest Forms of Matter” is not merely a depiction of the objects, but rather a mirror reflecting the heart. The tranquil state of mind and brushstrokes of Kang Jianyi ultimately point to the “harmonious life” depicted by him. Art has no boundaries; wherever the heart leads, there is always a path.

The tea for today is all gone. Next time, I’ll brew a fresh pot and enjoy art with you again.