Exhibition	Shaolin: Temple of Zen
Artist(s)	Guariglia, Justin
Title	Shaolin: Temple of Zen. Photographs by Justin Guariglia
View	Exhibition information
Year	2008
Decade(s)	2000s
Exhibition Dates	2008 February 2 - March 29
Curator(s)	Aperture
Description	Shaolin: Temple of Zen is an exhibition and publication that documents, for the first time in history, the exceptionally private warrior monks of the fifteen-hundred-year-old Shaolin Temple in the Henan province of China, renowned for its association with Zen Buddhism and martial arts. Comprised of 99 pieces, including 6 video installations, Shaolin: Temple of Zen brings to light the secretive society of the Chinese Buddhist sect dedicated to preserving a form of kung fu known as a "vehicle of Zen." Revealing the monks' devotional disciplines and capturing insightful portraits of the venerated warriors, the works offer an exclusive opportunity to explore the energy and spirit of Shaolin's unique practice. Guariglia's work explores the nature of 'qi' (pronounced chee), the concept of a universal energy, as well as the themes of ritual, spirituality, and Eastern philosophies through still photography and video. Carmen Winant of Philadelphia Weekly asserts that "the imagery simultaneously seethes with energy and casts a meditative silence. It evokes both the ancient and the contemporary."
Notes	A student in China in the mid 90s, Guariglia took an interest in Taoist and Buddhist philosophies, spending eight years studying the mystery behind the Shaolin art form. He earned the trust of the Shaolin monks to create a compassionate record of the art form and those who are the keepers of these traditions. Notably, Guariglia's publication features a foreword written by the Abbot of the Shaolin Temple, Shi Yong Xin.
Catalog	no
Gallery	Ben Maltz Gallery
Media	Photography
Collection	Ben Maltz Gallery Exhibition Archive