Art Lovers - I just wanted to give you a quick pointer to a current exhibition at The ARTrium. It’s open until Sunday (18th Nov).

Buddhist Doctrines Captured On Canvas by Taiwanese artist Lee Sun-don is interesting for a number of reasons. He uses a technique he calls Totemic Energy Oil Painting (based on a concept of existence out of non-existence) and western painting techniques to convey the Buddhist doctrines, the Forshang Buddha Dharma.

Subjects for the paintings include Buddha, Buddhahood, Buddha’s teachings, Buddhist sutras and Buddhist philosophy.

That’s all interesting in itself, but what you might find makes it worth your trip is his approach to the subjects. The writeup for the exhibition says:

“His painting is not merely a work of art, it also inspires Zen practice. In his paintings, he delivers messages and leaves enigmas for viewers to explore and contemplate. He hopes that the viewers will be inspired and gain true understanding of life while enjoying his artistic creativity.”

In addition to being a self-taught painter, Lee Sun-don is also a Buddhist Patriarch, writer, composer, Chinese Chess and Go game master, and science critic and talks on art in spirituality. His work is successful internationally. He is represented by a gallery in Taiwan and one in Beverly Hills California and at the moment he also has an exhibition in Paris, with his next one in December in New York.

It’s lovely stuff. Check it out on his website

The ARTrium is in the MICA Building

140 Hill St, on the river behind Funan
Open 11am - 7pm
Entry is free.

Just a reminder that the Bishan Shrine is open this Thursday (8th) for Deepavali, and also on Sunday (11th).

A great opportunity to get in your orders for delicious New Year goodies if you haven’t already.

Wow, my mother taught me to nag really well =p

The Asian Civilisations Museum has just launched a new exhibition, which will be on until March 23 next year. The Nalanda Trail: Buddhism In India, China and Southeast Asia looks at the spread of Buddhism from India over the past 800 years. Many of the relics are leaving India for the first time, and highlights include a stupa containing bone relics of Buddha and a display of Buddhist art which includes paintings from the famous Dunhuang grottoes in China.

If you haven’t been to ACM yet, it really is an amazing experience so allow yourself a few hours and wear comfortable shoes. It’s spread over 11 galleries and 3 floors, covering Chinese, Indian, Islamic and Southeast Asian history and it’s very interactive, with lots of videos to watch and buttons to push. It costs $10 to get in ($5 if you’re over 60 or have a concession), but there’s lots to see and do. If you’re a bargain hunter, there’s a discount between 7pm and 9pm on Fridays. From Tuesday to Friday at 12pm there’s a guided tour of the exhibition in English.