Shūnyatā: Visual Translation of the Void in Contemporary Japanese Art & Design

by Dr. Anu Jindal

Art Historian-Artist

Abstract

The Buddhist concept of shūnyatā (Sanskrit) kū (Japanese) variously translated as emptiness, void or non-substantiality was articulated by the Indian scholar Nagarjuna as a state of “neither existence nor nonexistence” which described the true nature of all things.

In Contemporary Japanese Visual Arts shūnyatā manifests as purity, tranquility, austerity, simplicity in contrast to the stress and turmoil of the world today. Shūnyatā also expounds on the latent potential inherent in life which can express itself at any time. Visual translation of the void encourages active participation by the viewer, prodding the memory bringing forth subliminal thoughts to rise into the consciousness.

This paper discusses shūnyatā in Japanese aesthetic renditions taking examples from contemporary art and design works.

copyright Anu Jindal 2014

(Full paper after presentation)