THE MONASTIC CALL TO NOTHINGNESS: A REDUCTION OF THE MIND TO STILLNESS, AN OBJECTLESS REJECTION OF THE EXTERNAL, PHYSIOLOGICAL DISCIPLINE AND CULTIVATION, AN IRRATIONAL DEDICATION OF FOCUS TO HIGHER POWERS.
THE MONASTERY IS A MICROCOSM OF A FUTURE CITY: DENSE, COMPACT, INTER-CONNECTED, COMMUNITY AND IDENTITY DRIVEN. SCALES OF PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION OF RESOURCES ARE EMBEDDED IN HYPER-LOCAL, CIRCULAR SYSTEMS.
THIS STUDY OUTLINES A PATH TOWARD A NEW MONASTICISM.
GARMENTS RESEMBLE A REDUCTION OF FORM AND REDUCTION OF HUMANITY, LIKE RELIGIOUS UNIFORMS THAT CODIFY CIVILIZATIONS INTO POWERLESS RETREAT FROM SELF-ACTUALIZATION.
SPIRITUAL ENSEMBLES ARE LAYERED WITH ATHLETIC COMPOSITIONS TO SHOWCASE A PURITY OF MENTAL AND PHYSICAL FORM. SCRAP SCARVES ARE FASHIONED CEREMONIOUSLY AROUND THE BODY THROUGH SEEMINGLY IMPROVISED, RANDOM APPLICATION.
IN ISOLATION, IDENTITY IS VOID. NECK AND HAND WARMERS ARE COMBINED WITH SHROUDING SCARVES, CAVERNOUS HOODS, AND MOCK COLLARS TO CONCEAL, VEIL, AND PROVIDE SOLACE TO THE WEARER.
ORGANIC AND UN-DYED FABRICS, SOURCED AND PRODUCED IN THE UNITED STATES, ARE CRITICAL TOUCH POINTS FOR COMMUNICATION ABOUT LOCALIZED SYSTEMS OF PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION. THE EXCHANGE OF LABOR AND PRODUCT IS TACTILE. LABOR BECOMES A RITUAL, PRAYER, AND MEDITATION.
A SOLE GARMENT UTILIZES SYNTHETIC MATERIAL. AN OVERSIZED PONCHO IS CONSTRUCTED OF A 2-LAYER WATERPROOF BREATHABLE FABRIC AND PROVIDES PROTECTION FROM EXTREME WEATHER. A MODULAR HOOD CAN BE ATTACHED AND DETACHED IN VARIABLE CONDITIONS AND STORED IN A ZIPPED REAR POUCH.
OUTFITS ARE CINCHED TOGETHER WITH A SIMPLE HEMP ROPE.
THE DESOLATE, DRY SALT PAN OF UTAH CONNECT GARMENT TO ENVIRONMENT. SALT IS A FOUNDATIONAL AND ESSENTIAL COMPONENT TO LIFE. EVOKING THIS PRIMITIVE MATERIAL CREATES AN ARENA TO EXPLORE THE CONCEPT OF NOTHINGNESS; CONVERSING WITH PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE. RESOURCES, ENERGY, POWER, LIFE.
A NEW ARTWORK, ‘EARTH ENSŌ’, IS PRESENTED IN THE LANDSCAPE, ALONGSIDE THE CLOTHING. 150 POUNDS OF BLACK LAVA ROCK MAKE A 7’ X 7’ CEREMONIAL, CIRCULAR FORM THAT REFERENCES THE BUDDHIST SYMBOL FOR ŚŪNYATĀ, OR, 'EMPTINESS'. THIS GESTURE IN NATURE CEMENTS PERMANENCE AND TACTILITY TO OUR PRESENTATION.
...NOTHING COMES FROM NOTHING...
