Kitty Enso 3 - Virginia Cohn Parkum, c. Unknown

In Kitty Enso 3, Virginia Cohn Parkum gently transforms the meditative gravity of the Zen enso into an image infused with affection, wit, and everyday intimacy. A single, fluid brushstroke forms the circular enclosure — slightly uneven, softly tapered, and alive with tonal variation — preserving the immediacy of the hand and the contemplative breath from which it emerged. The enso traditionally signifies wholeness, emptiness, and enlightenment; here, Parkum preserves that spiritual resonance while quietly inviting a smile.

At the top of the circle, two small, pointed strokes unmistakably suggest cat ears. With this minimal intervention, the sacred form shifts into a living presence. The gesture is playful but deliberate: the circle becomes both symbol and creature, both philosophical void and beloved companion.

Below the form, Parkum’s handwritten question — “What is?” — expands the work’s contemplative dimension. The phrase echoes philosophical and Zen inquiries into the nature of being, perception, and reality. Yet, paired with the feline silhouette, the question softens. It suggests that understanding may arise not through abstraction alone, but through attentive presence with the simple, immediate world — the quiet company of a cat, the stillness of shared space, the comfort of the familiar.

The brushwork remains uncorrected and spontaneous, honoring the Zen principle that the enso records a moment of consciousness rather than an ideal form. The cat ears do not parody the symbol; instead, they humanize it, reminding viewers that awareness and tenderness coexist.

In Kitty Enso 3, Parkum reveals that spiritual insight need not be austere. The work proposes a gentle truth: enlightenment may reside not only in silence and discipline, but in humor, companionship, and the soft attentiveness of everyday life.