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The nature of abstract expressionism only that artists be fully
present and completely open to spontaneity. The belief was that by
tapping into a deep and primal drive the artist would be capable of
representing “metaphysical undertones” in their art. This obsession with
an individual’s inner world and unique spirituality stood in stark contrast
to the era that produced it: amidst the pounding drum beat of
materialism, consumerism, and conformity an unexpected song of
originality and emotional chaos emerged. And the artwork was
undoubtably original! You may be imagining that the philosophy behind
this art could only produce so many whiplashed splatters and zig
zagged lines, but in fact, a wide range of emotional tone is reflected in
this genre. While Pollock’s legendary works may be the first to come to
mind, Rothko’s placid colourfield paintings are no less at home under
the title of abstract expressionism. It is an era of art unlike any that
came before it. At least, any that came before it in the Western world.
Although abstract
expressionism was as new and as
foreign as imaginable to the white
picket fence Americans it so
shocked with it’s arrival, it was
deeply influenced by ancient
traditions that were simultaneously
inspiring the beat generation to
revolutionize written art as much
as visual art. As stated in an
excellent paper titled “Zen
Buddhism and Abstract-
Expressionist Paintings” by Kyle
Schenken,(you can read it in full
here) many of he central tenets of
Zen Buddhism are paralleled in
the themes of the abstract
expressionist movement. The
early history of Zen painting took
influence from a passage in The
Diamond Sutra reading, “All
images everywhere are unreal
and false.” This simple quotation
swayed Zen art away from simply
trying to replicate the appearance "White Center" by Mark Rothko taken
of objects in the real world, as fromhttp://www.visual-arts-cork.com/history-of-
art/colour-field-painting.htm
would be the driving force behind