Zen and the art of Japanese Ceramics

In celebration of the sister-city relationship between the City of Newcastle and Ube, Japan this exhibition explores the influence of Zen Buddhism on art with its emphasis of gesture, simplicity, spontaneity and the essential qualities of materials, technique and the object. Through the Gallery’s significant collection of Japanese ceramics these principles are given form and are further translated into western painting by Australian artists including Royston Harpur, Peter Upward and Tony Tuckson.