Postcard for Peace Metal Print

metal prints abstract metal prints green metal prints zen metal prints enso metal prints circle metal prints bhudda metal prints master metal prints sakyamuni metal prints maitreya metal prints peace metal prints love metal prints embrace metal prints abstract expressionism metal prints philosophy metal prints

paintings abstract paintings green paintings zen paintings enso paintings circle paintings bhudda paintings master paintings sakyamuni paintings maitreya paintings peace paintings love paintings embrace paintings abstract expressionism paintings philosophy paintings

This artwork is based on Zen Master Bankei Yotaku's (1622-1693) uniquely identifiable enso. Using two strokes, instead of the traditional one stroke, he redefined the form. Two strokes, two actions, each with its own energy and boundary, embrace each other and come together as one circle; a perfect image of peace.

Bankei created this enso in his work entitled 'Sakyamuni and Maitreya'. Alongside the enso, he wrote 'Sakyamuni and Maitreya are both servants', referring to case 45 of the classic koan collection. Sakyamuni is the Supreme Buddha of our age; Maitreya is Sakyamuni's foretold successor. According to tradition, Sakyamuni woke up under the bodhi tree and declared "Now I am enlightened together with all beings", which is interpreted to mean 'All beings were his servants and he was servant to all beings'. Thus, the power of this koan and of Bankei's enso is that life is a circle of giving.

Julie Niemela, a Washington D.C. native, is a self-taught artist with a passion for photography and abstract painting. She is best known for her zen circle (enso) paintings. She has sold her work to collectors in the USA, Canada, Germany, Belgium, South Korea, and the UK.