2022 - acrylic on canvas - 31.5” or 80cm diameter circle
The series’ name derives from the circular brushstrokes drawn to represent the Zen mind. The ENSŌ series is inspired by the rich spiritual, philosophical, and artistic traditions of circles across cultures. It is an exercise in searching for the right balance between perfection and imperfection, control and surrender, restraint and outwardness.
The works are created through the meditative repetition and overlay of hand-drawn circles. The dimension and diameter of each circle is dictated more by the scale of the hand gesture than the choice of brush size. The unevenness of the hand drawn brushstrokes highlights raw authenticity, human imperfection and individuality over idealized symmetry and collective thinking. Each brushstroke embodies the balance of effort and surrender. A particular attention is placed on the significance of voids and breaks in the circles. Symbolism and beauty are to be found in the very nature of the imperfections and incompleteness.
Through its embrace of imperfect versions of a perfect shape ENSŌ offers a counter-narrative to rigid ideals, inviting viewers to celebrate what makes us human. It is an invitation to find peace and beauty in the act of creation, each brushstroke embodying the balance of effort and surrender, connecting ancient symbology with modern consciousness.