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| Bek MISIC, Before and After Enlightenment II, 2016 |
‘before enlightenment chop wood, carry water
after enlightenment chop wood, carry water’
[zen proverb]
The Art of [Domestic] Enlightenment is an exploration of the spiritual potential present in even the most mundane of tasks. It is also an acknowledgement of the disconnect between this ideal and the daily struggle to engage with the spiritual and creative worlds within the realm of the domestic and motherhood.
In the decade before becoming a mother I was introduced to the teachings of Ajahn Chah and Thich Nhat Hanh. I found an affinity with Thich Nhat Hanh’s use of Gathas - short verses that assist in mindfulness and gratitude in everyday life. Yet even after living almost two decades with these teachings, I still find myself striving for magical quiet moments of space and clarity. Past memories of week-long retreats and countless art camps in aesthetically spectacular desert locations linger. My life at present offers altogether different opportunities for enlightenment; the daily rituals that take place within the realm of the domestic - in a small mill cottage that looks out to a much loved mountain.
The zen proverb ‘before enlightenment chop wood, carry water; after enlightenment chop wood, carry water’ speaks to me not only of bringing enlightenment back to the everyday but of finding enlightenment within the everyday.
These works explore both the struggle and the striving to appreciate the Art of [Domestic] Enlightenment.
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| Bek MISIC, The Art of [Domestic] Enlightenment, 2016, The Flying Monkey, Cairns |
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| Bek MISIC, Lego Mandala, 2016 |
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| Bek MISIC, Before and After Enlightenment II, 2016 |
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| Bek MISIC, Stormtrooper Mandala, 2016 |
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| Bek MISIC, I Look to the Mountain I, 2016 |
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| Bek MISIC, Lawn Mandala, 2016 |
The Art of [Domestic] Enlightenment is at The Flying Monkey, Cairns from 21st March until 9th April.
