Die Ryoanji-Zeichnungen

Marc Notes: Supplement, Deutsche Textbeilage (Munchen: Schirmer/Mosel, [2012]) contains German translation of text.; Includes bibliographical references.; Between 1983 and 1992 John Cage created some 170 pencil drawings, an intensive exploration of Japan's most famous Zen garden of the Ryoanji Temple in Kyoto. The Ryoanji drawings can be seen as the opus magnum of Cage's visual work, illustrating aethetic and conceptual reflections relevant to his entire oeuvre. In cooperation with Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich, which owns an extensive selection of Ryoanji drawings, and the John Cage Trust in New York, Schirmer/Mosel is publishing John Cage - Ryoanji, which for the first time presents the complete series of drawings 'Where R = Ryoanji.'--Publisher description."Publisher Marketing: "John Cage (Los Angeles 1912-New York 1992), by many considered the most influential musician in the second half of the 20th century, has decisively shaped our notion of artistic avant-garde--in music as well as in literature and the visual arts. John Cage studied architecture, ethnic music and composition, taking free private counterpoint and analysis lessons under Arnold Schonberg. Influenced by Marcel Duchamp and Dada, Cage studied Zen Buddhism with Zen master Daisetsu Suzuki and staged spontaneous activities and happenings in the early fifties. In his later life he became a creator of fine visual art works, predominantly on paper. Vol. I of the John Cage Catalogue Raisonne of Visual art work features his Ryoanji works for the first time published in a book. Referring to the Kyoto Ryoanji Garden and executed in pencil or etching on paper that is evocative of raked sand, they depict the contours of fifteen stones. " Contributor Bio:  Thierolf, Corinna Corinna Thierolf and Johannes Vogt are curators at Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich.