Echoes of Absurdity — Abstract Expressionism and the Zen of Letting Go

Opening Paragraph:
Looking back on my time at the University of Denver, I can’t overstate the impact of Vance Kirkland’s painting classes. Through his mentorship, Abstract Expressionism became more than a movement—it became a mindset. Its embrace of freedom, chaos, and emotional immediacy still echoes in my work today.

Main Body:
The so-called “absurdity” of Abstract Expressionism was never a deterrent for me—it was the very quality that attracted me. The wild, raw energy of the brush. The refusal to “explain.” These elements felt oddly in sync with the Zen Buddhist koans I was studying at the time.

In fact, the influence of Zen minimalism is visible throughout the Abstract Expressionist movement. Artists like Mark Tobey infused their canvases with quiet energy and space for contemplation. Like Zen koans, their works are not meant to answer but to ask—to evoke rather than explain. The essence of Zen is a direct encounter with experience, stripped of embellishment. So too with the best of Abstract Expressionism.

There’s something liberating in that kind of art and philosophy: a rejection of American pragmatism and utilitarianism. A refusal to tidy things up for the sake of coherence. It challenges you to sit with discomfort, ambiguity, and beauty all at once.

Closing Thought:
Whether it’s the conundrum of “one hand clapping” or a Rothko canvas pulsing with silent intensity, both Zen and Abstract Expressionism demand presence. They invite us to let go—not just of answers, but of the need for them. In that space, something real emerges.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Les Bundy is Professor Emeritus, Department of Religious Studies, Regis University, Denver, where he taught for thirty three years. He is also an ordained Orthodox priest.