Tanden Art-Making as Contemplative Practice

Author

Rumi ItoFollow

Date of Award

Spring 5-22-2021

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

PHD - Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Expressive Therapies

First Advisor

Shaun McNiff, PhD

Second Advisor

Jane Ferris Richardson, PhD

Third Advisor

Tomoyo Kawano, PhD

Abstract

The art-based study, focused on painting with black ink on paper and video documentation, explores the relationship between artistic expression and contemplative breathing with a particular focus on tanden, a unique concept of such Asian cultures as Chinese, Korean and Japanese. There were three research questions: “How can tanden influence one’s physical movements in the art-making process?” and “Can contemplative breathing with a focus on tanden influence the quality of expression in one’s art-making? If so, what are the influences and implications for art therapy?”

The research suggested five bodily sensations common to all participants: inhaling and exhaling, relaxing, flow and rhythm, freedom and spontaneity, and centering. Those physical elements significantly impacted their artistic expressions, which conveyed three research outcomes as follows;

1. Different inhaling and exhaling sensations in the contemplative breathing with a focus on tanden facilitated attunement of mind and body.

2. The body movements became rhythmic, spontaneous, and bold in correspondence with contemplative breathing with a focus on tanden, and these qualities were shown in the paintings.

3. A focus on tanden supported centering action in the painting process together with corresponding expressions in the artistic composition.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.

Language

English

Number of Pages

192

Recommended Citation

Ito, Rumi, "Tanden Art-Making as Contemplative Practice" (2021). Expressive Therapies Dissertations. 111.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_dissertations/111