Calligraphic Meditation - the Mindful Art of Thich Nhat Hanh

Calligraphy Exhibitions of Master Thich Nhat Hanh 2010/2012-information for press release

The information is provided as references for press release or column. If further information is needed, Dr Eva Yuen* could be contacted at sdeva@polyu.edu.hk; or (604) 266-3443 (from 2- 22 August)

A unique joint venture between Hong Kong University Museum and Art Gallery and the European Institute of Applied Buddhism will present the work of the well-known Vietnamese Zen Master, the Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh, at the Asian Centre Auditorium, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, from August 6th to 11th. Entitled

Calligraphic Meditation: The Mindful Art of Thich Nhat Hanh, the exhibition is designed to be not only a collection of superbly executed calligraphic expressions as a work of art, but also a living meditative experience in itself for all those who attend, whether experienced meditators or not. The central theme is the Art of Mindfulness which

visitors will be invited to explore through reflecting first on the exquisite artwork and then on the selected excerpts from the Zen Master’s writing as an inspiration to practise the art of mindful living themselves, be it through doing beautiful scripts/handwriting,

handicraft, or simply just “being”.

Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh has led a remarkable life. Born in central Vietnam in 1926, he joined the monkhood at the age of 16. He has since dedicated his life to the work of inner transformation, for the benefit of individuals and society at large. Exiled from Vietnam, he founded Plum Village in France, from where he continues his work to alleviate the suffering of refugees, boat people, political prisoners and hungry families in Vietnam and throughout the world and leads retreats, worldwide, on “the art of mindful living”. He has published some 85 titles of accessible poems, prose and meditations, including the best selling Call Me by My True Names, Peace Is Every Step, Living

Buddha Living Christ, Teachings on Love, and Anger. Dwelling in the present moment is, according to Nhat Hanh, the only way to truly develop peace, both in one’s self and in the world.

This exhibition makes a significant but different contribution to the large body of literature by and about Thich Nhat Hanh, It is the first occasion to present him as an artist in North America, through the gift of his calligraphies along with a selection of his writings. The

exhibition will include the series of calligraphies displayed earlier in Hong Kong and Taiwan along with 13 new pieces of work created specially by Master Thich Nhat Hanh for the Vancouver audiences.

In the exhibition, rice paper, brush and ink will be provided to support visitors to engage in their own personal journeys of calligraphic meditation.

Calligraphic Meditation: The Mindful Art of Thich Nhat Hanh, 6-11 August 2011; venue: Asian Centre Auditorium, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

Opening hours: 9.00am – 5.00pm (from 6 – 11 August)

Inauguration- August 9th at 9:30-12.

Extension hours: 7.30am–7.30pm (from 9 - 11 August, to be confirmed)

To read a message from Thay Phap An about the exhibit, click here.

To have a visual experience of previous exhibits, click here.

*About the Curator and the Editor

Dr Eva Yuen has had an eclectic life journey: at different

times she has been a practicing artist and international

exhibitor, an artist-in-residence in Canada, Australia,

New Zealand, and Singapore, an active contributor to

non-governmental organization projects, and, for more

than 15 years, a teacher of Art and Design and specialist

in phenomenography research on creativity in the School

of Design in the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

In 2006 she began practicing Buddhism, and this

journey eventually led her to Thich Nhat Hanh. In

2008 she attended a Plum Village Retreat in Hong Kong

under the guidance of Thay Phap An and in June, 2010

she met Thich Nhat Hanh in the European Institute of

Applied Buddhism in Germany and learned the Five

Percepts from him. She described her experience of

meeting the Zen master as being like an encounter

with the holy being; what she perceived in him at that

moment was his awakened self, his Buddha nature, and

what he reflected back to her was her own capacity of

being awake. The mounting of the exhibition and the

editing of the book has been a labor of Love for Eva

and a chance to give service to society by sharing her

beloved teacher’s calligraphy and wisdom.