East meets West in this French artist's Asia-inspired works

In a beautiful expression of East meeting West, his works will be on view in an exhibition titled 'Thread Through Asia'.

On view at the Alliance Francaise de Delhi from January 11-16, Guyseika's debut India exhibition 'Thread through Asia' showcases the Asian influences on his art.

The solo show is a glimpse into the 22 years of his Zen practice and artistic exploration - a thread piecing together traditional Zen and Taoist painting of China and Japan, shamanism, mandalas and folk rituals of India with Tibetan thangkas.

The exhibition features over 50 contemplative works done in various media.

Originating in eastern India, the core of Buddhism spread throughout Asia and beyond over centuries, with each country adapting to the religion and uniquely localising it over centuries.

Guyseika was attracted to Asia right from childhood onwards, through the deep link that his grandmother had with Vietnam, having spent her childhood there. After travelling extensively within eastern countries and experiencing Buddhist culture first-hand, the Normandy-born artist started practicing Zen with a Japanese master. He later voyaged through India. Not surprisingly, upon his return to Paris, his works were strongly dominated by eastern cultures.

Guy also became fascinated with the spiritual and geometric forms of yantras and mandalas, and the ritual use of pigments, that one finds in abundance in India.

With bold, colourful strokes of the brush, Guyseika's work in acrylic on canvas represents fluid, dreamlike forms, and visualises his affinity for the mountains - spaces where much of his Zen exploration took place. Many of his works imagine Buddhist visuals mixed with manga, tattoo, street art and surfing culture.

Rooted in Buddhist philosophy, his works beautifully combine the text and visual forms. Interestingly, Seika does not own a studio. He likes to work where life takes him and use the materials that directly surround him.

( With inputs from IANS )