Hotei 1650 - 1850

Ogata Kōrin's "Hotei", is an ink on paper work that presents us with a study in dynamic form and minimalist expression. Predominantly monochrome, the bold, wet brushstrokes coalesce to depict the figure of Hotei, a semi-historical Chinese monk, known for his benevolent nature. The composition is defined by a striking contrast of void and volume. The figure, rendered with swift, assured strokes, occupies the central space. We see a deliberate economy of means which suggests not merely the image of the Zen master but a Zen sensibility. It embraces the beauty of imperfection and the power of suggestion, and the negative space around the figure is just as crucial to its presence. The structural interplay between ink and paper invites a contemplation on the philosophical underpinnings of Zen aesthetics, where emptiness and fullness coexist, and meaning emerges from the unsaid, unpainted and unseen.