Bringing the Art to You Week #27 Untitled (Bamboo with Chinese Calligraphy on Magenta Ground ) , 1985, watercolor on paper, 8 1/2” x 5 1/2" Here’s hoping everyone had a restful, enjoyable and peaceful July 4th. In the 1980s Dusti Bongé revisited her long sustained interest in Buddhism and its teachings in new ways in her art. Many decades earlier, in the 1940s and 1950s, Dusti became attracted to Zen Buddhism and its precepts during her close association with various New York School artists and, of course, her friend Betty Parsons. The concept and practice of mindfulness, fundamentally, of being aware and present in the moment while creating, rather than thinking of other things, seemed to suit a lot of modern abstract artists. This, as well as psychoanalytical ideas about the power of the unconscious, offered artists different avenues of engaging in the creative process. In Dusti’s renewed approach she explored various core Buddhist concepts directly, more literally, in her art. She explored the Zen Buddhist notion of the “void” through her abstract work seeking to somehow capture its essence. She studied Chinese calligraphy, repeatedly painting the symbols for the idea of “absolute compassion” by itself or together with depictions of bamboo in all its simple splendor. She created these works solemnly , with repetitive movements leading to ever changing compositions with bamboo stems and leaves, stems with their ring patterns, and calligraphy. Sometimes they would be in vivid colors like this work, other times the colors would be muted, soft greens and tans, or simply black & white. Dusti Bongé’s bamboo and calligraphy studies allowed her to be truly present. Both the process and product being meditative, they must have offered her a way to clear her mind. This, in turn, freeing her to allow the depths of her unconscious to come forth in her other work. Have you seen this work Do you or someone you know have this work in their collection? If so, we would love to hear from you. We are continually working to maintain as complete a record as possible, and to determine the location of all of Dusti Bongé's work. If you have information on this, or other works, you can contact us at
[email protected] We appreciate receiving any referrals to the existence and whereabouts of artworks by Dusti Bongé. Thank you. Available in our store: The definitive volume on artist Dusti Bongé, by J. Richard Gruber Dusti Bongé, Art and Life: Biloxi, New Orleans, New York Hard bound, 12” x 9”, 350 pages, over 500 color and b&w illustrations Limited edition lithographs of two original Dusti Bongé drawings. Shrimp Boats & Factories, Back Bay Biloxi I and Shrimp Boats & Factories, Back Bay Biloxi II 12” x 16” drawing, 15” x 22” paper size https://www.dustibonge.org/store.html support us Our mission: to promote the artistic legacy of Dusti Bongé (1903-1993)
