The Beauty of Chaos

<p>Matsubara thought about this for a long time, almost paralyzed with doubt. Two years later, he began painting a maelstrom of raging flames and wild beasts, recalling Pablo Picasso&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.museoreinasofia.es/en/collection/artwork/guernica" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank"><em>Guernica</em></a>. The work &mdash; actually 12 separate paintings, joined to form a kind of traditional Japanese screen &mdash; is an abstract representation of a Buddhist parable: a man is chased down a narrow path between a river of water (representing attachments and greed) and a river of fire (representing anger and hate). Only with deep focus and the guidance of Buddha can he reach enlightenment.</p> <p>Now in his 70s, Matsubara explained this watershed moment of creation with the interpretive help of Mai Yamaguchi, Mia&rsquo;s Andrew W. Mellon Assistant Curator of Japanese and Korean Art. Painting this parable, she said, was a form of prayer, a spiritual purging of everything holding him back. Healthy mind, healthy art.</p> <p><a href="https://medium.com/minneapolis-institute-of-art/the-beauty-of-chaos-73b495f5197e"><strong>Visit Now</strong></a></p>
Tags: Chaos beauty