“Kyo” (emptiness) by Suda Kokuta (1906-1990).

Ink and crayon on paper mounted as a triptych screen.

Signed Koku, dated 1986 and sealed Kokuta to lower left.

This unusual screen bears the key words that epitomise Suda Kokuta’s life and philosophy. The large, powerful calligraphic character “Kyo” in the centre means “emptiness” or “void”, a significant idea in Zen Buddhism that continuously influenced the artist throughout his life.

Other characters in crayon on both sides are the words he was particularly conscious of in his artistic and spiritual life as well as the names of priests and artists who inspired Suda. The words and names listed are:

Right panel:

Jōmon-jin

Jōmon people; people who lived in the Japanese archipelago during the Jōmon period (c. 14,000–300 BCE)

Wajin

The old name of the ethnic group of people who lived in the Japanese archipelago during the Yayoi period (300 BCE–300 CE)

Nihonjin

Japanese people

Eigaisei

Child-like quality

Kindai-zōkei

Modern form / art

Gendai-bijutsu

Contemporary art

Zōkei

Form, or art which takes some kind of form such as painting, sculpture, design and architecture

Busshitsu

Material

Shikaku

Square

Sen

Line

Men

Plane / two-dimensional

Shikimen

Coloured plane(s)

Rittai

Three-dimensional

Machiēru

Matière, texture

Obuje

Objet d'art

Zokushakai

The secular world

Taisei-kiyaku

Rules of structure

Datsuraku

Drop-out

Mujun

Contradiction

Ketsugō

Unify

Hitei

Denial

Seishin

Spirit / soul

Kyomu-shisō

Nihilism

Genjitsu

Reality

Shakai-taisei

Social system

Kachi-hyōka-shaki

Abandoning the appraisal value

Sai

Difference

Sonzai

Existence

Jittai

Substance

Saigyō

Saigyō Hōshi (1118-1190, Japanese), a famous poet, originally a worrier and later a travelling monk and hermit

Sesshū

Sesshū Tōyō (1420-1506, Japanese), a prominent master of ink painting and Zen Buddhism

Dōgen

Dōgen Zenji (1200-1253, Japanese), a Buddhist priest, philosopher, author of Shōbōgenzō (lit. “Treasury of the True Dharma Eye”)

Enkū

Enkū (1632-1695, Japanese), a Buddhist monk and sculptor who is known to have carved some 120,000 wooden Buddhist sculptures during his travels

Left-panel:

Sharaku

Tōshūsai Sharaku (act. 1794-1795, Japanese), an ukiyo-e print artist whose identify still remains a mystery

Bashō

Matsuo Bashō (1644-1694, Japanese), regarded as one of the most prominent poets of the Edo period and the greatest master of haiku

Hakuin

Hakuin Ekaku (1686-1769, Japanese), one of the most influential Zen priests and greatest Zen painters, revived the Rinzai school of Japanese Zen Buddhism.

Ryōkan

Ryōkan Taigu (1758-1831, Japanese), a monk of Soto School Zen Buddhism who was popular to children and commoners for his friendly and down-to-earth character. His simple poet and calligraphy works have been highly appreciated.

Kumagai Morikazu

Morikazu Kumagai (1880-1977, Japanese), an artist who is well-known for his iconic Fauvism-style painting.

Saeki Yuzō

Yūzō Saeki (1898-1928, Japanese), a western-style painter who was active mostly in Paris during his short artist life. His painting style is often associated with those of Maurice de Vlaminck and Maurice Utrillo.

Nihonjin-teki

Japanese

Reisei-teki

Spiritual

Jikaku

Consciousness

Chirei

Spirit of lands / Earth

Suijaku

Temporary manifestation of Buddha

Hyōi

Possession

Matoko(ou)fusuma

A sacred blanket that was mentioned in Nihonshoki (Chronicles of Japan, 720). Wrapping a prince with it was referred to as a proof of royal blood and descendant of kami (gods).

Dōji-mitchaku

Simultaneous cohesion

Shinreiteki-taitoku

Spiritual experience / mastering spirituality

Taiken

Experience

Kōdō

Action

Daichisei

Earth nature

Seimei

Life

Uchū

Universe

Seimeitai

Life form

Jittai

Substance

Seimei-kongen

The origin of life