Cultivating spaces for extraordinary artists

World One: Online Course

“Form is Emptiness, Emptiness is Form”​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy that deals with the first principles of things, including abstract concepts such as being, knowing, identity, time, and space. In this course artists were invited to explore metaphysics and the nature of imagination.

The artists considered, what are the reasons that we create, and how do our stories affect us? How do we use our imaginations and creativity to represent the self, to empower ourselves and others, and to bring more meaning and purpose into our lives?

As a reference starting point, the project began with a mantra from the Buddhist Heart Sutras, ‘Form is Emptiness, Emptiness is Form’.

Students went on to explore the interconnections between inner and outer worlds, adding their discoveries to their mixed-media journal along the way. Artists practised a range of creative skills, including the Japanese water meditation and printing process of ‘Suminagashi’, origami/paper-folding, collage and poetry.

The arts course took place online over Zoom.

Creative Skills: Mixed-media, printing, paper marbling, origami, illustration, painting, creative writing, poetry, collage and assemblage.

World One Artist Leader: Karen Barnes ​​​​​​​

Image description: Profile photograph of the artist leader - Karen Barnes. Karen has long dark hair that falls below her shoulders, brown eyes and a broad smile. She wears a top.

Karen is a self-taught artist with a degree in Sociology. Her artistic practice is multi-disciplinary and explores mindfulness, problem solving, metaphysics, geometry, borderlines, boundary edges and other worlds.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Five pieces of marble art, approximately A4 in size are fanned out across a white background. Lay on top are three Japanese style paint brushes. They are red in colour with yellow gold patterning at the centre. The tips of the brushes are white.


Artist website: www.zenpulp.co.uk