Painting
Ask not what the painting means but what it does – your experience of it. But then – putting words to the raw feeling will disempower it. Which does more – the words of love or the smile?
Our word fascination comes from the same root that gave us basket: a binding together, an interweaving, a oneness of the fibers, a union, a fusion – yoga. Today the word is debased, has lost its essential magic; we even proclaim we are fascinated by TV ads! But it is not so. We are not fascinated – only attracted, drawn, to them (from the Latin trahere, to draw). Attracted to, but not bound to, one with. Merely superficial, momentary, evanescent, with little deep or lasting worth.
“Every picture tells a story.” D. T. Suzuki wrote of “The Zen Doctrine of No-Mind,” achieved through meditation. Yen Hui, the favorite pupil of Confucius, spoke of “sit and forget everything.” That is, meditating with no-mind.
Emanate: from the Latin e, out of, and manare, to flow. So an emanation is that which flows out from. Music emanates, as does all art.
If we could directly tap into the Muse, the Soul, of the artist, we would see, we would hear, we would Feel, we would Know, what no artist has yet been able to fully Reveal.
The origin of the word dada is disputed. I like Shipley’s: "Baby talk, imitative. The first two sounds an infant makes seem to be ma and pa."
How many millions have puzzled over Botticelli's “La Primavera” – and the infinite reproductions. And all the basic question: What's it about?
If an average person looks at a low energy, even unloving, painting he will be put into that negative state. But if he closes his eyes for, say, a few minutes, then he will behold it as an Instance of God.
In terms of Oriental influence – or should I say Guidance? – I might mention that I often, unconsciously, paint using the “flying white” technique.