By Vanshika Saxena
New Delhi [India], April 7 (ANI): Renowned artist, poet, and diplomat Abhay K has launched his newest art exhibition Shunyata | Emptiness, a thought-provoking tribute to the Buddhist concept of Shunyata—the idea that all things lack inherent, independent existence.
Unveiled on April 5, the exhibition is deeply inspired by the iconic line from the Heart Sutra: “Form is emptiness, and emptiness is form.” Through minimalist yet deeply layered artworks, Abhay K explores the fluid relationship between form and void, permanence and impermanence.
“It came to me while I was staring at a blank canvas,” Abhay K said. “I saw forms appear and disappear, just like thoughts—mirroring the impermanence of life itself.”
Each painting in the exhibition acts as a visual koan—a paradox that leads to contemplation. Circular forms reminiscent of suns, black holes, or mandalas recur throughout the works, textured with layered strokes that vanish into soft gradients when viewed from afar. The effect is a dance between presence and absence—inviting the viewer into a state of mindful observation.
“Shunyata was imparted by Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara to Shariputra at Griddhakuta Parvat in Rajgir, Bihar,” Abhay K explained. “I come from this very place and encountered the philosophy while researching my book Nalanda: How It Changed the World.”
The exhibit draws from Eastern spiritual traditions and Western philosophy alike. Echoes of Schopenhauer’s reflections on transience and Zen Buddhist aesthetics offer a bridge between ideas and emotions, intellect and silence.
Visitors have responded with admiration and introspection.
“It’s a truly beautiful experience,” said Sushmita, attending the exhibition for the second time after first seeing it in Orleans, France.
Swarnim Shikha added, “At first glance, it looks like a dense forest. But then, like a magnified emerald. As you move, it shifts. It’s formless—just as he said.”
Through Shunyata | Emptiness, Abhay K does not simply present art—he presents a meditative space. A quiet, contemplative experience that lingers in the viewer’s mind, echoing the eternal truth: everything changes, and in that change, there is beauty. (ANI)
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