@article{ART003375659},
author={Seonyoung Seo and Seona Chang},
title={The Hole in Francis Bacon’s Paintings and the Circle (圜) in Eastern Thought},
journal={The Journal of Transdisciplinary Studies},
issn={2586-5439},
year={2026},
volume={10},
number={2},
pages={171-181},
doi={10.22685/jts.2026.10.2.171}
TY - JOUR
AU - Seonyoung Seo
AU - Seona Chang
TI - The Hole in Francis Bacon’s Paintings and the Circle (圜) in Eastern Thought
JO - The Journal of Transdisciplinary Studies
PY - 2026
VL - 10
IS - 2
PB - The Society for Transdisciplinary Studies
SP - 171
EP - 181
SN - 2586-5439
AB - Objectives: This study aimed to demonstrate that the hole in Francis Bacon’s paintings, interpreted by Gilles Deleuze (2003), and the circle, conceptualized by Juan Eduardo Cirlot (1971), have certain structural and functional features with the circle (yuan, 圜) in Eastern thought, and that both the hole and the circle (yuan, 圜) may function as artistic mechanisms linking the virtual and the actual. Methods: This study focused on structural homology with regard to the relationships among concepts and the processes of generation and circulation, and on functional equivalence within their respective systems. First, based on Deleuze’s interpretation of Bacon and Cirlot’s symbolism of the circle, the present study considered the hole within Bacon’s diagram as a passage where invisible forces move between the virtual and the actual, generating haptic sensation. Next, it examined Cirlot’s concept of the circle in terms of unity, totality, circular movement, and the return from multiplicity to unity. Then, it compared these structural and functional features, together with Cirlot’s symbolic meanings of “Infinity,” “the Universe,” and “the All,” with Eastern conceptions of the circle (yuan, 圜), such as “the infinite” (wuxian, 無限), “the origin” (genyuan, 根源), and “creative potential.” Results: Through this comparison, the present study revealed structural and functional similarities among Bacon’s hole, Cirlot’s circle, and the circle (yuan, 圜) in Eastern thought. Conclusions: The study indicates that the hole in Bacon’s paintings can be understood as analogous to the circle (yuan, 圜) in Eastern thought, particularly in its role as an artistic mechanism linking the virtual and the actual.
KW - Francis Bacon;Hole;Circle (Yuan;圜);Confucianism;Potentiality
DO - 10.22685/jts.2026.10.2.171
ER -
Seonyoung Seo and Seona Chang. (2026). The Hole in Francis Bacon’s Paintings and the Circle (圜) in Eastern Thought. The Journal of Transdisciplinary Studies, 10(2), 171-181.
Seonyoung Seo and Seona Chang. 2026, "The Hole in Francis Bacon’s Paintings and the Circle (圜) in Eastern Thought", The Journal of Transdisciplinary Studies, vol.10, no.2 pp.171-181. Available from: doi:10.22685/jts.2026.10.2.171
Seonyoung Seo, Seona Chang "The Hole in Francis Bacon’s Paintings and the Circle (圜) in Eastern Thought" The Journal of Transdisciplinary Studies 10.2 pp.171-181 (2026) : 171.
Seonyoung Seo, Seona Chang. The Hole in Francis Bacon’s Paintings and the Circle (圜) in Eastern Thought. 2026; 10(2), 171-181. Available from: doi:10.22685/jts.2026.10.2.171
Seonyoung Seo and Seona Chang. "The Hole in Francis Bacon’s Paintings and the Circle (圜) in Eastern Thought" The Journal of Transdisciplinary Studies 10, no.2 (2026) : 171-181.doi: 10.22685/jts.2026.10.2.171
Seonyoung Seo; Seona Chang. The Hole in Francis Bacon’s Paintings and the Circle (圜) in Eastern Thought. The Journal of Transdisciplinary Studies, 10(2), 171-181. doi: 10.22685/jts.2026.10.2.171
Seonyoung Seo; Seona Chang. The Hole in Francis Bacon’s Paintings and the Circle (圜) in Eastern Thought. The Journal of Transdisciplinary Studies. 2026; 10(2) 171-181. doi: 10.22685/jts.2026.10.2.171
Seonyoung Seo, Seona Chang. The Hole in Francis Bacon’s Paintings and the Circle (圜) in Eastern Thought. 2026; 10(2), 171-181. Available from: doi:10.22685/jts.2026.10.2.171
Seonyoung Seo and Seona Chang. "The Hole in Francis Bacon’s Paintings and the Circle (圜) in Eastern Thought" The Journal of Transdisciplinary Studies 10, no.2 (2026) : 171-181.doi: 10.22685/jts.2026.10.2.171
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