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Enso: Stop!*
Virginia Cohn Parkum, c. 2020s
In Enso: Stop!, Virginia Cohn Parkum reinterprets the Zen ensō—traditionally a single, continuous …
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Enso: Stop!*
Virginia Cohn Parkum, c. 2020s
In Enso: Stop!, Virginia Cohn Parkum reinterprets the Zen ensō—traditionally a single, continuous circle representing enlightenment, emptiness, and the unity of existence—by interrupting its contemplative calm with a striking gesture: the imprint of a human hand. The circle, rendered in dense sumi ink, sweeps around the composition with a textured gradation that reveals the speed, pressure, and breath of the brush. Its edges feather into the paper, suggesting both motion and dissolution, as if the form is still becoming.
At the center, a dark handprint asserts itself with visceral immediacy. Unlike the controlled brushstroke of the ensō, the hand is raw, physical, and direct. It introduces the body into what is traditionally a meditative symbol of transcendence. The open palm reads simultaneously as a command, a boundary, and a moment of contact—an unmistakable sign to halt.
The title Stop! reframes the ensō’s meaning. Rather than symbolizing uninterrupted flow or spiritual completion, the circle becomes a field of interruption. The gesture suggests the necessity of pause: a break in habitual motion, a stopping of thought, a suspension between action and awareness. In Zen practice, such interruption can mark the moment of awakening—the instant when attention breaks through the automatic rhythms of daily life.
The contrast between controlled brushwork and the immediacy of the handprint heightens the work’s tension. The ensō embodies discipline and tradition; the handprint embodies presence and urgency. Together, they create a visual koan, asking whether enlightenment arrives through continuity or through rupture.
The red seal stamp anchors the composition within East Asian ink traditions, while the handprint’s contemporary directness situates the work firmly in the present. Enso: Stop! becomes an invitation: to pause, to notice, and to recognize the transformative power of interruption.
-Jonathan Flike
*The title of this work was assigned by Visard Gallery.
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- Dimensions
- 18ʺW × 1ʺD × 14ʺH
- Frame Type
- Framed
- Period
- 2020s
- Country of Origin
- United States
- Item Type
- Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned
- Materials
- Pen and Ink
- Condition
- Good Condition, Original Condition Unaltered, Some Imperfections
- Color
- Black
- Condition Notes
- Please note that this item is vintage and shows wear consistent with age, use, and history. Signs of wear may … morePlease note that this item is vintage and shows wear consistent with age, use, and history. Signs of wear may include, but are not limited to, minor surface marks, patina, fading, or imperfections typical of older items. All items are sold as-is, which is standard with vintage and pre-owned goods and cannot be returned on the basis of condition. Measurements are approximate. We do our best to describe items accurately; however, condition assessments are subjective. If you would like additional details, images, or clarification before purchasing, please contact us. less
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