Tim Pingelton

A while back, my wife and children and I had a long walk in cold weather to get from our hotel to the Denver Art Museum (DAM). The only map we had to guide us was a very general one from the hotel concierge, and the map failed to include several large buildings we had to get around (viz, the Denver Mint). We finally found the fortress and stayed until we were kicked out. One artwork that actually froze me in my tracks was this Enso (AKA "Zen Circle") painting in DAM's impressive and unique Asian Art collection.

Paintings like this reflect the "still center" of Japanese Zen Buddhism and/or the Chinese Taoist importance of nothingness, and, once you see one, you will see them everywhere. Over 2500 years ago, Lao Tzu, in Tao Te Ching, wrote,

Thirty spokes share one hub. Make the nothing therein appropriate, and you will have the use of the cart.

That is, without the empty space of the inner hub, the cart cannot work. To me, this painting at DAM illustrates that sentiment: that nothing might be as necessary as things. Plus, I love the way the bristles of the brush fan out. I imagine the painter was standing at the right edge of the rice paper canvas, and the bristles fanned out as he had to reach over to complete the circle (ensos have to be completed in one firm yet controlled stroke). This is not a laser-controlled exact circle. It's just so perfect for its "flaws" (aren't all perfect things?).

I will not pretend to know much about Zen Buddhism, Taoism, or even Asian painting. It is true, though, that the unique power of this painting stopped me and my family on our speedy trip through the museum. I snapped this photo as we reluctantly left to the next exhibit hall. It’s the weekend now, but I will call the DAM on Monday to find out more information on this great artwork (don't bother searching online; it's not there).

[Update: The Denver Art Museum contacted me.  The piece is entitled Memory Palace (2013), and it’s by Joseph Stashkevetch.]

BTW, I wrote a novel on art and art theft that everyone should read. It's called Art Appreciation. I know you'll love it.  Relevant to this blog posting, Dam is the name of the novel's protagonist (it's short for Amsterdam). I've got you interested, haven't I?