Why is the Enso collection important?

Murakami often incorporates Buddhist iconography into his artworks and has also painted great figures of Zen Buddhism such as Daruma the Great, the founder of Zen as well as The 500 Arhats, the wise followers of Buddha who attained enlightenment by overcoming their greed, hatred, and delusions. In an impressive 100-meter long painting, Murakami painted The 500 Arhats in response to the 2011 East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, an event which profoundly changed the direction of his work.

How do I buy an Enso print?

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How can I sell my Enso print?

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Enso by Takashi Murakami Background & Meaning

Enso

Takashi Murakami's Ensō series comprises of prints featuring the Ensō (circle) symbol. Originating in Zen Buddhism the symbol represents a moment of enlightenment and spiritual purity. The collection reflects Murakami's own journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth, including his determination to merge traditional and contemporary influences, as he combines brushwork with spray paint.

Meaning & Analysis

Ensō is a collection of prints produced by the inspiring Japanese artist, Takashi Murakami. Many of the works in this collection were exhibited in 2015 at a Pop-Up exhibition of the same name at the Kaikai Kiki Gallery in Tokyo. All the prints in this collection feature the Ensō, a circle that is hand-drawn freely in one uninhibited brushstroke. The symbol is used in Zen, a school of Mahayana Buddhism to express a moment when the mind is free to let the body create. The Ensō is also used to symbolise enlightenment, strength, elegance and the universe.

The subject of these new paintings is one of the most famous motifs in Zen painting, the Ensō (literally circle) that symbolises emptiness, unity and infinity in Zen Buddhism. The Ensō is also considered the prerequisite to every act of creation, a moment when the mind is free to let the body create. Traditionally produced using a brush in one fluid and highly mastered stroke, the emphasis on being made with one stroke means the circular shape does not allow for any wavering or change of heart.

The collection features a range of variations of the Ensō. The Ensō is conventionally characterised by the minimalism of traditional Japanese aesthetics. Interestingly, in this collection, Murakami fuses a traditional painting style with more contemporary influences such as spray painting. Some of the designs such as Agama and Amitabha Buddha are simple, favouring the minimalist aesthetic that is often associated with Japanese painting. In these prints, Murakami renders the Ensō in white against a plain backdrop. Others are executed in Murakami’s unique visual style, with the artist spray painting the symbol over his signature cartoon motifs, as seen in Enso Facing The Pitch Black Void in which the white Ensō stands out against a black and white skull backdrop.

Murakami often incorporates Buddhist iconography into his artworks and has also painted great figures of Zen Buddhism such as Daruma the Great, the founder of Zen as well as The 500 Arhats, the wise followers of Buddha who attained enlightenment by overcoming their greed, hatred, and delusions. In an impressive 100-meter long painting, Murakami painted The 500 Arhats in response to the 2011 East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, an event which profoundly changed the direction of his work.
The traditional subject matter of this collection harks back to Murakami’s studies at the Tokyo University of the Fine Arts and Music where the artist gained a BA, MFA and PhD. Despite wanting to be an animator, Murakami specialised in ‘nihonga’, the traditional style of Japanese painting. After studying, Murakami began to distance himself from this traditional style, experimenting with more contemporary styles and mediums. Many of Murakami’s artworks are inspired by contemporary Japanese popular culture. The artist’s visual language is characterised by his use of bright colour, incorporation of graphic motifs such as smiling flowers and cartoon characters, and flat or glossy surfaces. This collection stands out from many of Murakami’s other collections due to its traditional style and subject matter.
If you're looking to sell art by Takashi Murakami, click the link and we can help. We employ a number of techniques and practices in order to give a realistic and achievable valuation on any art listed on myartbroker.com. We analyse the demand for the work in question, take into consideration previous sales and auction valuations, we assess the current gallery valuation and monitor the current deals taking place via MyArtBroker every day. We regularly advise sellers on a price bracket for their artwork completely free of charge.