世界禪藝術研究院 World Zen Art Center established in New York

News reports in December 15

At 12:00 pm on December 15, 2012, the World Zen Art Center had their first board meeting that was held in New York’s Chinatown.  The establishment was initiated as a non-profit private Operating Foundation by Zen artist Yi-Xiong Gu. The objective of the foundation is to research and utilize its special funding to specifically promote the development of Zen Art in the United States. The International Zen Art “Honorary Fellow Award” is introduced alongside as a tribute dedicated to merit Zen Art and Artists that have made outstanding contributions in the field of Zen Art, to further encourage their exploration and supports in spreading the spirit of Zen Art, as well as bring more artists from the United States and the rest of the world together to cultivate the field of Zen Art. 

The board meeting was the supported by Chinese American Artist Research Association, Mr. Yong-Kang He and U.S. China Buddhist Association Abbot. Miao Feng sent his calligraphic inscribed congratulations through Hai-Ci Wen, the Executive Officer of the US Chinese Buddhist Association.  Five founding members attended the initial meeting with special guests to discuss the objective, approve the articles of association, and ceremonially inaugurate the World Zen Art Center Foundation. The foundation funding research direction is the world’s Zen art. Artists have also been appointed and elected during the meeting; Ms. I-Ling Eleen Lin was elected as the first Chief Executive Dean.; Dr. Richard Erickson was invited as Consultant; US China Buddhist Association Abbot. Miao Feng and New York City University Dr. Ching-Tse Lee were appointed as Honorary Dean; Mr. Chun-Yun Huang, the President of the New York Chinese Painting Academy, Mr. Yong-Kang He, and Mr. Zhi-Long Li, the President of Chinese Zen Art Institute are Consultant served.  The President is Mr. Yi-Xiong Gu; Executive Dean as Ms. I-Ling Eleen Lin; and Mr. Zuo-Yu Zhang and Mr. Chang-Qing Deng are Vice Presidents of World Zen Art Research.  Soon follow the meeting the artists and board members exchanged their artistic practices through calligraphy exchange.
Mr. Yong-Kang He said, “Zen Art was formed in China, spread to Japan, and later made it’s way to the United States.  Currently, even Europeans are studying and investigating Zen Art.  In New York, there are already a limited amount of artistic research facilities for Asian artists.  I hope the establishment of the World Zen Art Research Center Foundation will attract and urge more Americans to learn and understand Chinese Zen Art, and it also adds another oriental cultural arts study center to New York Chinatown.”

Mr. Yi-Xiong Gu, the President of World Zen Art Center and the Vice President of the China Zen Art Academy is a Chinese Zen artists that resides in New York.  Born in 1971 from Shaanxi, he graduated from Xi’an University Teachers College in 1995.  He lived in Shenzhen in 2000 and Talents green card immigrated to the United States in 2009.  Mr. Gu specializes in Chinese ink landscape and Zen paintings.

I-Ling Eleen Lin, the Chief Executive Dean, was born in Taiwan in 1982.  She immigrated to Thailand when she was six years old, and currently lives in New York.  She obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Slade School of Fine Art – University of London in 2005; studied in The Academy of Fine Art, Vienna in the SOCRATES program and graduated from Yale School of Art with a Master of Fine Arts – Painting in 2008.  Her artwork blends a style of Eastern and Western Philosophies, using a romantic and colorful palettes.  The unique approach exhibits a hybridity of the East and the West that is widely consumed in contemporary societies worldwide.