Tom Wudl
1948 Born, Cochabamba, Bolivia
1958 Immigrated to United States,
settled in Los Angeles, CA
Lives and works in Los Angeles, CA
Education
1966 - 1970 Chouinard Art School,
Los Angeles, CA
1970 B.F. A. from Chouinard Art School,
Los Angeles, CA
More information, images and videos at:
www.lalouver.com/wudl
L.A. Louver is pleased to present Beginningless Inexhaustible Empty, an exhibition of new works by Los Angeles-based artist Tom Wudl.
For the past decade, Wudl has taken inspiration from the Avatamsaka Sutra (The Flower Ornament Scripture) to create an ongoing series of intricately rendered paintings, drawings and prints in response to the evocative and profound literary descriptions within the texts. Considered one of “the most colorful and dramatic rehearsals of Buddhist teachings,” the Avatamsaka Sutra is believed to be the first teaching of the Buddha to emerge shortly after his awakening, and describes the sublime imagery revealed to him at the site of enlightenment.
“The ground was solid and firm, made of diamond, adorned with exquisite jewel discs and myriad precious flowers, with pure clear crystals. The finest jewels appeared spontaneously, raining inexhaustible quantities of gems and beautiful flowers all over the earth. By the Buddha’s spiritual power, he caused all the adornments of this enlightenment site to be reflected therein.”
This short passage is just an example of the profundity that spills forth on every page of scripture, and provides a glimpse into the rich visual depictions infused in the works on view. The sutra’s primary purpose is to encourage meditation and illustrates the world as it appears to the Buddha, where all things are interconnected and interdependent within a cosmos of infinite realms.
Just as the sutra implicates the interdependency of all things, each work in the exhibition is interconnected and can be viewed as individual fragments that collectively communicate the whole of the subject; and every meticulous intricacy speaks to the wonderment and reverie demonstrated in the Avatamsaka Sutra.
Although inspired by Buddhist teachings, the works themselves are not intended to be sacred icons. However, Wudl follows the long tradition of artists who merge aesthetics and mysticism. Included here is a short video of the artist discussing this concept in depth.
On view 8 October – 7 November 2015
About the gallery
Founded in Venice, California in 1975, L.A. Louver gallery is committed to contemporary art through a distinguished program of Los Angeles based and international artists.
L.A. Louver
45 North Venice Boulevard
Venice, California 90291
tel: 310.822.4955
info@lalouver.com
More information at: www.lalouver.com
