Opening Ceremony for “Zen Heart – Xutong Tian Travelling Ink Painting Exhibition”

The opening ceremony for “Zen Heart – Xutong Tian Traveling Ink Painting Exhibition” was held on 1st January, showing casing 62 pieces. This ribbon cutting was attended by Curator Venerable Abbess Manshin, Wife of the artist Mrs Ho Fan, Editor of Indian News Link Mr Venkat Raman, Howick Council Vice-chair Adele J White, President of Chao Shan General Association of New Zealand Zhang Yikun, Famous Auckland artist Chen Yun Yao, Chairperson of New Zealand Pacific Art Exchange Centre He Jiyun, New Zealand Chinese Calligraphers Association Chairperson Wang Zhenyuan and Chairperson for Armed Forces Medical Student Association in New Zealand Dan Ziyuan. Other guests included members of local Chinese, business, art, education and media community groups as well as many local artists, altogether over a hundred people in attendance.

Because the artist Xutong Tian cannot attend the ceremony, his daughter Ms Danlu Tian explained the traditional Chinese and Zen aspects of her father’s work with the audience.

Abbess Manshin introduced Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s motto of “Propagating Buddhism through art” regarding the Fo Guang Yuan Art Galleries. Not only has this provided many artists the stage to shine, it also opened a window of culture exchange between arts. Mr Venkat Raman wished everyone can learn according to the Buddha’s wisdom through these Zen themed paintings. Ms Adele J White spoke about the deep friendship between Howick Council and the temple; she hopes there will be more such art and cultural exchanges in the future.

Mrs Ho Fan thanked the temple for providing them this opportunity and the excellent skills of the volunteering team’s set up of the venue, which will surely lead to the success of the exhibition. She also briefly explained the ideas and thought behind each work so the audience can understand Xutong Tian’s Zen artistry better.

Later in the after a tea meditation session was held at the art gallery. It was conducted by BLIA volunteers Shi Rongsheng and Gu Yuling and participated by Sancta Maria College’s Director of International Students Rosemary Gillies’s friends and colleagues. This allowed all 6 participants to experience a journey through the culture of Zen and tea. They praised the profoundness purifying and settlement effects of Buddhism, realising that Zen is not just sitting meditation.

The art gallery was packed on this 1st day of the New Year. Even more joyous is that over 10 pieces have already been purchased by local art connoisseurs, which adequately expressed the value of these meticulous artworks that has travel ten thousands of miles to get here. This truly supported the ideals of “Purify people’s mind through culture and propagate Buddhism through art”.