Tàpies and the art where samsara is nirvana. Non-dualistic roots in his aesthetics
This essay delves into Antoni Tàpies’s profound engagement with non-dualism, a philosophical stance encapsulated in the aphorism “samsara is nirvana and nirvana is samsara.” Tàpies’s exploration of non-dualism, which integrates diverse spiritual and philosophical traditions, profoundly shaped his ar...
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Aesthetics & Culture |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20004214.2024.2407219 |
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| author | Roger Ferrer-Ventosa |
| author_facet | Roger Ferrer-Ventosa |
| author_sort | Roger Ferrer-Ventosa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This essay delves into Antoni Tàpies’s profound engagement with non-dualism, a philosophical stance encapsulated in the aphorism “samsara is nirvana and nirvana is samsara.” Tàpies’s exploration of non-dualism, which integrates diverse spiritual and philosophical traditions, profoundly shaped his artistic practice and worldview. Drawing from Western hermeticism and Eastern philosophies such as Hindu Advaita and Zen Buddhism, Tàpies embraced non-dual consciousness as a guiding principle in his art. His creative process incorporated alchemical symbolism, aiming to transmute mundane materials into expressions of unity between matter and spirit. Tàpies’s attention to the ordinary and overlooked underscored his non-dual perspective, emphasizing the intrinsic value of all things. This ethos mirrored in his choice of humble materials and focus on everyday themes, as well as in the diptych structures that symbolized meaningful relationships between opposites. Central to Tàpies’s oeuvre is the assertion that “samsara is nirvana,” a concept deeply rooted in Mahayana Buddhism. His artworks serve as vehicles for awakening consciousness and transcending the illusion of duality, offering glimpses into the underlying unity of existence. Furthermore, the essay explores Tàpies’s esoteric influences, highlighting his incorporation of mystical symbols and his belief in art’s capacity to evoke transformative experiences. By examining Tàpies’s essays and artistic works, alongside insights from extensive secondary sources, this essay aims to provide an enriching perspective on the artist’s contributions to international discourse on non-dualism and aesthetics. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9b9d638e48c24b26a4c6691036c518d0 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2000-4214 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Aesthetics & Culture |
| spelling | doaj-art-9b9d638e48c24b26a4c6691036c518d02025-08-20T01:58:08ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Aesthetics & Culture2000-42142024-12-0116110.1080/20004214.2024.2407219Tàpies and the art where samsara is nirvana. Non-dualistic roots in his aestheticsRoger Ferrer-Ventosa0Department of Art History, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainThis essay delves into Antoni Tàpies’s profound engagement with non-dualism, a philosophical stance encapsulated in the aphorism “samsara is nirvana and nirvana is samsara.” Tàpies’s exploration of non-dualism, which integrates diverse spiritual and philosophical traditions, profoundly shaped his artistic practice and worldview. Drawing from Western hermeticism and Eastern philosophies such as Hindu Advaita and Zen Buddhism, Tàpies embraced non-dual consciousness as a guiding principle in his art. His creative process incorporated alchemical symbolism, aiming to transmute mundane materials into expressions of unity between matter and spirit. Tàpies’s attention to the ordinary and overlooked underscored his non-dual perspective, emphasizing the intrinsic value of all things. This ethos mirrored in his choice of humble materials and focus on everyday themes, as well as in the diptych structures that symbolized meaningful relationships between opposites. Central to Tàpies’s oeuvre is the assertion that “samsara is nirvana,” a concept deeply rooted in Mahayana Buddhism. His artworks serve as vehicles for awakening consciousness and transcending the illusion of duality, offering glimpses into the underlying unity of existence. Furthermore, the essay explores Tàpies’s esoteric influences, highlighting his incorporation of mystical symbols and his belief in art’s capacity to evoke transformative experiences. By examining Tàpies’s essays and artistic works, alongside insights from extensive secondary sources, this essay aims to provide an enriching perspective on the artist’s contributions to international discourse on non-dualism and aesthetics.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20004214.2024.2407219non-dualisminformalismalchemyAdvaitaZenTao |
| spellingShingle | Roger Ferrer-Ventosa Tàpies and the art where samsara is nirvana. Non-dualistic roots in his aesthetics Journal of Aesthetics & Culture non-dualism informalism alchemy Advaita Zen Tao |
| title | Tàpies and the art where samsara is nirvana. Non-dualistic roots in his aesthetics |
| title_full | Tàpies and the art where samsara is nirvana. Non-dualistic roots in his aesthetics |
| title_fullStr | Tàpies and the art where samsara is nirvana. Non-dualistic roots in his aesthetics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tàpies and the art where samsara is nirvana. Non-dualistic roots in his aesthetics |
| title_short | Tàpies and the art where samsara is nirvana. Non-dualistic roots in his aesthetics |
| title_sort | tapies and the art where samsara is nirvana non dualistic roots in his aesthetics |
| topic | non-dualism informalism alchemy Advaita Zen Tao |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20004214.2024.2407219 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rogerferrerventosa tapiesandtheartwheresamsaraisnirvananondualisticrootsinhisaesthetics |