Director of Christchurch Art Gallery visit FGY CHCH – Enjoy Master Hsing Yun’s One Stroke Calligraphy Beauty
Christchurch Art Gallery Director, Blair Jackson and Visitor Service Manager, Amy Harrington visited Fo Guang Yuan (FGY) Art Gallery Christchurch on 18th December. They are welcomed by FGY Art Gallery Curator Venerable Abbess Manshin, Fo Guang Shan South Island Minister in-Charge Venerable Jue Xi, Public relation Ryan Wang, Kok Wei Low, Karzin Leong, Nick Yoong and Toney Su.
Abbess led Blair, Amy and others visiting the temple, including viewing the Four Bodhisattvas Statues situated on the outer wall of the building, atrium, the Buddha hall and the current exhibition, Professor Kuo Yen Chiao’s Traditional Chinese Paintings, the Practitioners Mind Floral Exhibition by Abbess Manshin, Everlasting Beauty of Dun Huang Arts Exhibition at the art gallery. Blair and Amy admired the elegant design filled with Chinese Zen spirit of the temple creating a peaceful atmosphere.
Abbess Manshin showed the guests the original One Stroke calligraphy By Venerable Master Hsing Yun and a short videoclip that introduced Master Hsing Yun’s One Stroke calligraphy exhibited in various art galleries around the world. Both Blair and Amy were moved by Master Hsing Yun's persistence and perseverance in propagating Dharma teaching. They admired the artistic value of Master Hsing Yun’s One Stroke calligraphy. Abbess gave a copy of Master Hsing Yun's calligraphy collection and 366 days with Wisdom to the guests.
Abbess Manshin also introduces Encyclopaedia of Buddhist Arts to Blair and Amy. Blair and Amy were amazed by the Encyclopaedia with complete collection of Buddhist cultural relics which recorded from ancient times to the present, collection in various countries, including architecture, grottoes, sculpture, painting, calligraphy, seal cutting, crafts and Buddhist art figures. When Abbess introducing the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum (FGSBM), Blair and Amy were amazed by the scale and solemn construction of the building. Both of them felt incredible knowing the Buddha Museum was the first religious museum certified with ISO 50001 energy management system and also won 2020 TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice award in August.
Blair and Amy appreciate FGY Art Gallery’s warm hospitality, which made their visit very rewarding and had a clear understanding about Humanistic Buddhism propagation. They are happy and hope to have further artistic interaction and collaboration between both galleries in the near future.