The figure of "The Thinker", an unnamed
man in a pose of deep contemplation, is a classic representation of
meditation and reflection in Western culture. But beyond this icon
lay images of meditation and reflection throughout many styles and
forms of art.
This virtual exhibit will explore meditation and reflection across
cultures, from 9th century Buddhism to 20th century abstract art.
Navigation links at the bottom of each page lead to the next object,
or back to previous objects. In addition, the list of sculptures,
paintings, and objects at the left of each page provides direct access
to specific works of art, and to the supporting materials, including
the essay on bibliographic sources, list of sources used, and a personal
statement on the project.
Meditation has been defined as "private devotion or mental exercise
consisting in any of innumerable techniques of concentration, contemplation,
and abstraction, regarded as conducive to heightened spiritual awareness
or somatic calm." (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2002) It has been practiced
in countless ways across cultures, frequently in the context of religion,
and has been compared to prayer. Meditation is valued for its ability
to calm the mind, restore the spirit, and lead to enlightenment. It
has been shown to have physical benefits of reducing stress levels,
and increases alpha waves in the brain. (Monaghan, 1999) Most meditative
practices center on sitting still and focusing the mind on something,
such as a mantra, nature (especially mountains and water), music,
beauty, or abstractions such as a single color.
In religious contexts, meditation is often seen as the path to enlightenment.
Depictions of religious figures or deities engaged in meditation are
prominent in Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism. In the 6th century B.C.E.,
the process of meditation led young Siddhartha to enlightenment, at
which point he became the first of many Buddhas.
In an entirely different religion, the Water
Goddess represents Chalchiuhtlicue, the Aztec goddess of water
and springs. Her serene face would be found in roadside shrines and
caves, and serve as a focal point for fertility prayers.
Physical locations and spaces can serve as centers for meditation.
In Islam, the mihrab (prayer niche) in a
mosque serves as the main place for prayer. Worshippers face the qilab,
the wall in the mosque which faces Mecca and has one or more mihrabs
in it. In this example, the mosaic pattern with inscriptions from
the Koran in a variety of scripts forms a beautiful focus for personal
meditation and prayer. In Chinese architecture, courtyard
gardens are created as a respite from the busy world of commerce,
politics, and outside life. Quiet contemplation is encouraged through
harmonious design, symbols, and natural elements such as plants, rocks,
and flowing water.
Landscape scenes are often meditative in nature, particularly in
Chinese and Western culture. The beauty of the natural world provides
endless visual material on which to focus the attention, from mountain
peaks, streams, trees, clouds, the sky, and so on. The grandeur and
power of nature, as well as the place of humanity within it, are often
the subject of landscape paintings. Examples of this inclde Scholar
Looking at a Waterfall, The Heart of the
Andes, and the stained gass window Autumn
Landscape. The viewer is invited, even encouraged, to enter a
meditative state while looking at these images.
Images of individuals in the act of meditation and personal reflection,
whether formally or informally, are found in many kinds of art. European
artists of the 19th and 20th centuries painted or carved both famous
and everyday people in poses of meditation. In Rodin's white marble
sculpture, Beside the Sea, a woman sits
with her hand in the water, gazing downward with an absorbed, yet
peaceful, look on her face. In Picasso's portrait, Gertrude
Stein gazes out from the canvas, her face a masked expression
of thought and introspection. The anonymous Figure
Seated by Curtained Window is immersed in some quiet pursuit,
perhaps reading.
Modern abstract art often creates an atmosphere of meditation and
reflection for the viewer through use of color or texture, rather
than human figures. Monet's Water Lilies
paintings, while ostensibly portraying the water lilies in a garden
pond, verge on abstractions of color and shapes. The atmospheric quality
of these and other Impressionist paintings, such as paintings of fog,
haystacks, or rivers, have a soothing, calming effect. Later 20th
century works include more formal abstractions, often consisting of
colors without any definite shapes. Ellsworth Kelly creates a visual
meditation on color in Spectrum V, among
other works, in which the role of color creates the form and structure
of the piece.
Music plays a role in many types of meditation around the world,
often in a ritual context. In Native American cultures, music symbolized
and personalized supernatural power, and was often a form of prayer.
Rattles, drums, flutes, and other instruments
were used during dance ceremonies centered around various spiritual
needs. European traditions also associate music with religious ceremonies.
Listening to music individually can be the center of a personal meditation.
Meditation and art are connected in many ways. Art can be used for
meditation, as well as to depict meditation. The process of creating
art can itself be a form of meditation, as the artist's attention
is absorbed in the act of creation. Furthermore, frequently both share
the goal of leading humanity to a higher plane, to a place of a spirit,
and a greater understanding of the universe.