visual arts
in Mystery, a lovely hanging decision.
Part of the reason these white-on-black
pieces jump out is, of course, the value of
negative on positive, but it’s also a very
Zen acceptance of what comes with large
strokes of paint — splatters. Tanahashi’s
splatters combine spontaneity and the
awareness of deeply ingrained patterns; the
arc of the white drops look like the follow-
through of a basketball player’s hand
after she shoots the ball. In other words,
they’re both unique and a result of hours of
repeated practice.
Those hours, the repeated movement
and the controlled nature of this powerful
gesture, emerge as the melding of tradition
and invention with Tanahashi’s Zen circles.
Traditionally, these circles — or Enso
— would be painted in a single stroke,
often one a day, with black paint on a
white background. The style of an artist
reveals his or her state of mind at the time
of the painting. Circles can be open or
closed, as the artist desires; an open circle
might represent something quite different,
spiritually speaking, from a closed circle.
But the circles have almost always been
black.
Tanahashi’s circles don’t know the
word “black.” There’s one called Metal
that shines gold, silver and metallic blue.
A red circle — titled, like most of them,
Miracles of Each Moment — leaps from
white paper. And a bright blue, purple and
green circle particularly disturbed White
Lotus owner Hue-Ping Lin at fi rst. Then
she heard the artist speak at the Eugene
Zendo, where he explained why he opened
Left to right: Miracles of Each Moment
(blue) , Compassion
(blue),
Compassion, , Enjoyment
Enjoyment, , Miracles
of Each Moment (red) and One
the tradition to new ways of thinking.
Lin told me that Tanahashi discussed the
combination of discipline and freedom.
Indeed, not only his many Miracles but also
his leaping, squirming fi sh-like half-circle,
Light Within, provide glorious examples of
this melding.
Most of Tanahashi’s paintings glow
with exuberance and fl exibility, discipline
and joy, care in preparation and freedom in
execution. Take your time with this show;
you might think you understand it all at
fi rst glance, but a bit of meditation and
contemplation can bring deeper rewards. ew
“Brush Mind” runs through March 4 at White
Lotus Gallery, 767 Willamette, open 10 am to 5:30
pm Tues. through Sat. Tanahashi’s website (www.
brushmind.net) has more info about his practice,
translation of Zen works and his work for peace.
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EUGENE WEEKLY FEBRUARY 21, 2008 29