Taniguchi Buson, or Yosa Buson, was an influential painter and poet during the Edo period. Born in a suburb of Osaka, Japan, Buson was an orphan who eventually moved to Edo to study painting and haiku poetry in the tradition of Basho. He first gained notice for his visual art -- like much traditional

Elegant, Ethereal, Minimal, Sensual, Serene, Zen & haiku

Eiko and Koma are a Japanese husband-and-wife team that creates sometimes-serene, sometimes-intense dances. Though their background lies in Butoh, Eiko and Koma make laconic distinctions between themselves and post-war Japan's "dance of utter darkness." With names like "Grain," "Beam," and "Land, Win

Butoh, Contemplative, Dreamy, Epic, Minimal, Serene

"The Ice Storm" scrutinizes a suburban family's travails at the height of the 1970s in upper-middle-class Connecticut. Given the film's intense exploration of the period and the locale, it comes as a surprise that this poignantly accurate piece was directed by a native of Taiwan who only arrived in t

Beautiful , Domestic, Eclectic, Sensual, Serene

Vietnam is a country much visited by the ghost of war. The sister specters of imperialism, political strife, and atrocity flit through the cultural psyche, incessantly whispering disturbing thoughts in people's ears. In response, the Vietnamese seem to practice a certain serenity, never repressing pa

Contemplative, Lyrical, Serene, Violent