reForm
MEDITATIONS ON STONE LITHOGRAPHY
An installation inviting visitors interaction
Comprising:
An audio of the graining of a Lithographic stone,
Three Zen Gardens with rakes, composed of 3 different grades of carborundum grit: course, medium and fine. Plus fragments of smashed lithography stone.
A prepared Lithography stone and crayon
The Zen Garden
In Buddhist teaching all things in life are impermanent. Core to the Buddhist practice is the art of meditation and self enlightenment. Zen Gardens were created to “imitate the intimate essence of nature, not its actual appearance and to serve as an aid to meditation about the true meaning of existence.” Lines or ripples are raked in the gravel to resemble water, these patterns have an aesthetic function, creating challenges amongst the carefully composed rocks. Zen priests practice this raking to enhance concentration, the variations in patterns are seen as a creative and inspiring challenge.
The art of Stone lithography is challenging and intricate. Central to the practice is the respect for the stone.
Preparing the Lithographic stone for drawing is a ritual of cleansing and making anew. The previous drawing must be erased via a methodical cycle of gentle graining, through three different stages of grit; course, medium and fine. Water is central to this process, aiding the smooth massaging of grit under the weight of another smaller stone. Graining the stones in this way, creates a rhythmic mesmeric sound, as a pattern is followed, levelling and smoothing away the top layers of the limestone. Like the raking of the zen garden the artist must concentrate, focus, meditate on the erasing of the old to make way for the new. Tuning into the sonic variations of stone upon stone, the ancient piece of limestone rock, formed in the Jurassic period reveals its secrets. Compressed layers of time, that the artist can only wonder upon, sing and raise to the surface. This is the sound of the lithograph stone – pause and listen, perfection is being chased, a challenge is being raised and inspiration being sought.
MEDITATIONS ON STONE LITHOGRAPHY
An installation inviting visitors interaction
Comprising:
An audio of the graining of a Lithographic stone,
Three Zen Gardens with rakes, composed of 3 different grades of carborundum grit: course, medium and fine. Plus fragments of smashed lithography stone.
A prepared Lithography stone and crayon
The Zen Garden
In Buddhist teaching all things in life are impermanent. Core to the Buddhist practice is the art of meditation and self enlightenment. Zen Gardens were created to “imitate the intimate essence of nature, not its actual appearance and to serve as an aid to meditation about the true meaning of existence.” Lines or ripples are raked in the gravel to resemble water, these patterns have an aesthetic function, creating challenges amongst the carefully composed rocks. Zen priests practice this raking to enhance concentration, the variations in patterns are seen as a creative and inspiring challenge.
The art of Stone lithography is challenging and intricate. Central to the practice is the respect for the stone.
Preparing the Lithographic stone for drawing is a ritual of cleansing and making anew. The previous drawing must be erased via a methodical cycle of gentle graining, through three different stages of grit; course, medium and fine. Water is central to this process, aiding the smooth massaging of grit under the weight of another smaller stone. Graining the stones in this way, creates a rhythmic mesmeric sound, as a pattern is followed, levelling and smoothing away the top layers of the limestone. Like the raking of the zen garden the artist must concentrate, focus, meditate on the erasing of the old to make way for the new. Tuning into the sonic variations of stone upon stone, the ancient piece of limestone rock, formed in the Jurassic period reveals its secrets. Compressed layers of time, that the artist can only wonder upon, sing and raise to the surface. This is the sound of the lithograph stone – pause and listen, perfection is being chased, a challenge is being raised and inspiration being sought.