DOUG & MIKE STARN
Absorption of Light
December 6, 2001 - February 2, 2002
Structure of Thought Attracted to Light Black Pulse Ganjin

Ganjin was an 8th Century blind Chinese monk sent to Japan to reform Buddhism. The contemporaneous sculpture and Temple Residence in Nara is an UNESCO world treasure and currently is undergoing a decade long restoration. Over the centuries much of the gold leaf on the raised and prominent features have worn away, exposing the dark clay underneath, leaving the brilliance only in the recesses and shaded areas. This creates an odd negative appearance, a coincidence of opposites-darkness in the light and light in the dark. Ganjin's eyes see nothing but black, filled with light.

As in the Starns' Attracted to Light series, the Ganjin series are also printed on hand coated paper and are sulfur toned.
Gyoki, 2001
toned silver print on Thai mulberry paper
edition 1/3
27 x 43 1/2"
(framed 37 x 53 1/2")
Segmented Lotus, 2001
toned silver print on Thai mulberry paper
edition 2/10
20 x 24
(framed 30 x 34")
Ganjin, 2000
toned silver print on Thai mulberry paper
edition 5/5
72 x 72"
(83 x 83" framed)
Ganjin (Head Detail), 2000
toned silver print on Thai mulberry paper
edition 8/15
24 x 24"
(34 x 34" framed)
Structure of Thought Attracted to Light Black Pulse Ganjin