Over years of ongoing conversation, suschnee and bryan mulvihill discussed ways in which art making could be of benefit to others. It always came back to the motivation, the state of mind that is applied to the act of making art. Ultimately, it is the mind that makes and experiences a work of art. vaste et évident – mind way – shin dao investigates the mind in its most fundamental state. Not the everyday thinking, remembering mind, but rather cognitive awareness itself, referred to in Eastern traditions as primordial awareness: that which is fundamentally present in all living beings.
The “way” of the title points to the creative processes used in making works. Utilizing technical skills that require long periods of intense concentration reveals the attentive mind like a reflection of the moon in water. Acts of deep looking allow the mind to settle. Precise repetitive action gives rise to harmony and calm alertness. The works exhibited reflect focused attention to the creative nature of the mind through the progressive development of technical skills that allow the artist to experience open, clear concentration of the mind. It is the artists’ wish that these works inspire a sense of harmony, tranquility and insight in the mind of the viewer.
suschnee and bryan mulvihill dedicate this exhibition to the memory of Daniel Dion, dear friend and collaborator. It was with Daniel’s enthusiasm and insistence that they proposed to show together at OBORO. Daniel said he would join them as curator before he passed away last September.