ART & CULTURE - LEVEL

Art is made within the spaces of limitation. Whether it is the technical aspects of materials or the requests of patrons or the desire to visualise an intangible feeling, art is a form of problem solving. This lecture looks at the art of instructions and how, within the limits of instructions either specific or open-ended, artists can produce vastly different artworks. First, we’ll look at examples of historic artists and how they responded to the social and intellectual rules of their time, including Byzantine icons, China’s Song Dynasty and France’s Academy. We’ll then explore how modern and contemporary artists often use instructions to ‘unlearn’ traditional power systems, from the Surrealists to artists like Yoko Ono, John Cage and Sol Lewitt. The goal is to understand how instructions and regulations can actually become spaces for the freedom of expression.

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This is a series of workshops designed by Azumi Uchitani to explore Japanese culture through the art of calligraphy and language. We will meet bi-weekly, slowly moving from season to season and uncovering new characters, rituals, concepts and beliefs deeply rooted in Japanese lifestyle. Each event we will centre around a new symbol: we will learn its meaning, discuss a poem about it, meditate and experience the power of the concept through calligraphy practice.

### Wisdom: 知恵 (chie)

Join us for our next Japanese Calligraphy workshop, where we will explore the beautiful and profound kanji 知恵 (chie)—meaning wisdom or intelligence. This character represents not just intellectual knowledge, but also the deeper, intuitive understanding that comes from life experience. In Japanese culture, chie embodies a harmonious balance between learned intelligence and instinctive insight, making it a perfect reflection of our monthly theme: Intelligence and Intuition. Through the meditative practice of shodō (書道), we’ll reflect on how this concept continues to shape values, decisions, and interpersonal relationships in Japan—and how it might inspire our own. Whether you’re new to calligraphy or a returning participant, come deepen your understanding of this powerful word through ink, brush, and mindful expression.

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“Sometimes the birth of a work is a spontaneous and unpredictable event” (Picasso).
The master piece Demoiselles d’Avignon by Picasso is a crucial stepping stone in the birth of modern abstraction. At only 25 years old and after years of painting in a figurative style, Picasso abandoned all that he had known. In a new and robust style this painting championed form over content, altering reality into something way more geometric.
Picasso drew his first designs for what became Les Demoiselles d’Avignon in the winter of 1906-07. Intensively and consciously planning his design, his artistic intuition told him he was on to something. Soon the painting sent shock waves through the Paris art world. Its controversial and revolutionary new look led to his fellow artists being both impressed and repulsed.
This work shows, more than any other works by Picasso, the cognitive leaps his creative brain made and how art is about looking – really looking.

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Karma is a foundational concept in Hinduism, describing the universal law of cause and effect where every action, thought, and intention shapes future experiences. Rooted in ancient scriptures like the Vedas and Upanishads, karma explains not only personal fortune and suffering but also the cycle of rebirth (samsara) and the path toward liberation (moksha). In Hindu philosophy, karma is not simply about reward or punishment; it is about maintaining cosmic balance and moral responsibility, with every individual accountable for their deeds.

Culturally, karma influences Indian society, literature, and daily life, offering guidance for ethical living and acceptance of life’s challenges. However, in the West, karma is often misunderstood as instant justice or “what goes around comes around,” oversimplifying its deep spiritual and philosophical significance. This lecture will clarify the true meaning of karma in Hinduism, explore its role in shaping destiny and moral choices, and address common misconceptions.

We will also briefly connect these ideas to the monthly theme of “intelligence and intuition,” highlighting how understanding karma requires both thoughtful reflection and intuitive insight.

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