Dō – Spirit of The Way

​The exhibition covers a wide range of Japanese arts that bear the suffix "dō" (道) which have shaped the cultural and spiritual landscape of Japan. Dō, which means "way," originates from the Chinese concept of Dao, which was integrated over generations into Zen Buddhism. Both traditions sought to understand the essence of the "way" as an inner and spiritual journey.

This view profoundly influenced the formation of many Japanese arts, including shodo (書道 "the way of writing"), chado (茶道 "the way of tea"), and budo (武道) martial arts. Each invites the practitioner into a process of meditation in action, beginning with the quieting of the mind and continuing with an action performed with complete attention and full presence, without expectation of a result and without striving for a goal. The action itself is the purpose and its own reward.

The connection between the arts and the spirit of Zen Buddhism is embodied in the concept of mushin (無心 "non-grasping mind"). This is a state in which thoughts and expectations do not disrupt the action, and the action occurs as second nature; drawing the sword with one stroke in martial arts, the line that emerges in one breath in calligraphy, and the meticulous movements of the tea ceremony. Mushin is not passive emptiness, but complete clarity. It is the simplicity of harmonious action that is done as if by itself. Arts bearing the suffix "dō" offer a complete way of life. The practitioner becomes a "way", and the way unfolds in every moment and in every action. It is a path for the constant development throughout the person’s life, outlining a complete dedication to a practical and continuous practice that is part of life itself.

Alongside traditional art pieces, the exhibition will also feature contemporary video, photography, and paintings by Japanese and Israeli artists that reflect the concept that "the path and the one who walks it are one." Another section will feature a series of action photographs and an installation created specifically for this exhibition by Japanese artist Onishi Yasuaki. In the installation, strips of paper float above basalt rocks, and visitors will be invited to wander and find their way through. 

This exhibition is the first collaboration between the Wilfrid Israel Museum of Oriental Art and the Tikotin Museum of Japanese Art, and offers a broad view of different concepts of "the way" in both traditional and contemporary art. The two exhibitions complement each other: They invite the visitor to embark on a journey from Dao to Zen Buddhism (Chan) in China, and on to the formation of the concept of Dō in Japan. The symbol 道, common to both cultures, expresses a perception of the path not as a destination to be reached, but as a way of life of inner attention, presence, and movement in harmony with constant change.

In the framework of the joint exhibition, the paths of two extraordinary collectors meet again - Felix Tikotin and Wilfried Israel. Both were born into wealthy Jewish families in Germany, dreamed in their youth of becoming artists, and realized their love of Asian art through their collections, which are the foundation of the two museums which bear their names.