The Rubin Museum (http://www.rmanyc.org/) in New York City is hosting an exciting exhibit of C. G. Jung's art and writings. "The Red Book of C.G. Jung: Creation of a New Cosmology" runs October 7, 2009 - January 25, 2010. I was there for opening day, along with a crowd of others from all over the world to see the fabled book the New York Times describes as "the holy grail of the unconscious," in a lengthy article published on September 20, 2009 (http://www.nytimes.com/). The exhibit coincides with the release of a facsimile edition of the Red Book.
I viewed Jung's artwork at the Rubin Museum where it is displayed in a lower level gallery, a fitting place for the work of a pioneer of the unconscious. As in important dreams, I descended a staircase to another level in order to look upon some of Jung's personal creations. Small framed copies of mandala paintings from the Red Book are accompanied by modest pencil sketches on scratch paper - a blank prison camp form, a sheet from a prescription pad--recording his immediate inspirations that he later developed into his mandalas. Other items on display are copies of Jung's Black Book, some original paintings, and an informative video narrated by Sonu Shamdasani, editor of the facsimile Red Book.
The Red Book has been known of, but never seen in public until now. It has been kept in a locked bank deposit box in Zurich, Switzerland, for many years. Jung shared parts of his private journaling with family, close friends and associates, but he gave no clear indication of his wishes for it. He left it to his heirs to decide what to do. It is with trepidation that the Jung family has allowed the book to be published.
Is it appropriate to bring such personal material into the public eye? What effect will it have to make the contents of the Red Book known? Only time will tell. On the other hand, what a loss it would be for the book never to be revealed, because through it Jung offers the example of his own journey toward wholeness. His was a life lived with courage and dedication to know himself and the breadth of human experience. I came away from the exhibit inspired to appreciate the gifts that each living moment brings. I also came away with a nine pound facsimile edition of Jung's Red Book which I intend to ponder for a good while to come.
