Vegetable Nirvana

    While taking a class on Japanese art history last semester, I became fascinated by Itō Jakuchū’s Yasai Nehan (“Vegetable Nirvana”, ca. 1792), an ink painting modeled after the traditional genre of “nehan-zu”, or paintings of the death of the Buddha. Instead of the historical Buddha, however, Jakuchū’s painting centers on a reclining radish, surrounded by a variety of fruits and vegetables – pumpkins, mushrooms, pears, melons et cetera. My first impression was that the painting was quite funny, but I soon learned that it was not intended to be perceived as parody. Jakuchū came from a family of greengrocers, and “Vegetable Nirvana” may be seen as a memorial to a lost family member. The painting also relates to the traditional symbolism of radishes and the idea that plants are capable of attaining Buddhahood; and its composition parallels canonical iconography deliberately and clearly.

    It was this contrast between surface-level humor and a sense of sincerity that fascinated and captivated me, and which spurred the beginnings of this piece. Though I at times drew inspiration from the charm and melancholy of the painting’s visuals, my music admittedly has little to do with radishes, Buddhism, or family history. Instead, I focused on the question of how perceptions of the same material might be changed over time – from irreverent to heartfelt, perplexing to coherent, sarcastic to genuine – and how the line between irony and sincerity could be blurred.

Premiered on April 15, 2024 at the Juilliard School in New York City. Recorded on May 8, 2024. Produced and edited by Aaron J. Derwin II.