Rassouli: The Master of Fusionart
by Rasoul Sorkhabi
(for the full article, click here: OM-Times May 2010 Edition)
A glance at his paintings hooks the viewer and takes him or her on a pleasant, mysterious journey through colors, lines, shapes, and shades. The painter is Freydoon Rassouli, an American-Iranian, now in his mid-sixties and reputed internationally as the master of “fusionart.” When I first saw his paintings on his website, I was simply fascinated by them; but I also wanted to know the artist himself— his insight and life journey that has led him to this visionary, spiritual art. So I went to meet with him in Encino, California, where he lives, works, and teaches fusionart to hundreds of people from various walks of life, in classes, retreat sessions, and through online courses.
A Life Touched by Painting
When I arrived on a Saturday morning in Los Angeles, Rassouli was conducting a daylong workshop at the Historic Mayfair Hotel, where his paintings are also on display. Rassouli began with a brief speech to his students and friends: “Picture this,” he said; “A tremendous current, a pure and powerful river, is flowing. Call it the energy or flow of existence, life, God, or by whatever name you like. Now a tiny part, a drop, of this current desires to branch out. How can this drop make it happen against the mighty current?” The students thought this parable over and at the end of the discussion, there was a profound conclusion: The drop can manifest itself only if it is limited and only if it can accept its limitedness. This is how creation takes place both in nature and in art. There is a tremendous power of creativity, not despite, but because of limitedness in us and in our artwork.
Rassouli then gave the participants a hint for the day’s painting. He called it “Finding the Clues.” He told them to spatter color paints on the canvas at random, and then start painting from the point that draws their attention. “Continue working on that particular spot, but if you are caught up in your rational thinking, stop there, and move to some other spot and paint. Continue this process until you feel that the painting is done. A creative work will come out by itself.” The participants worked on their paintings for the rest of the day. Late in the evening, they gathered around Rassouli; each painter showed his or her work, and Rassouli, as well as the others, gave their comments. “My classes,” Rassouli told me, “are not like standard sketching or painting classes where everyone has to produce a fixed image. I want my students to create paintings spontaneously in a dynamic way.” Therefore, the painter does not start with a preconceived image, but lets the work take its shape and color from the spontaneous flow of energy through him or her. The results of that day’s workshop were amazing. Even though the students started with the same hint, their paintings were a diverse array of expressions, impressions, or symbolic figures. Moreover, working in the group generated a particular energy in the environment—a synergy—that strengthened each person’s participation in the painting. When asked how they felt while they were painting, the participants mentioned various sensations, such as freedom, fun, a joyous spirit, and creative energy. All these, of course, help the painter’s spiritual transformation or growth as well.
