Mandala 2021: Seeing Harmony in Chaos

Wikipedia defines “mandala” as a “a geometric configuration of symbols. In various spiritual traditions, mandalas may be employed for focusing attention of practitioners and adepts, as a spiritual guidance tool, for establishing a sacred space and as an aid to meditation and trance induction.”

Over the centuries, monks and artists have sought to convey a sense of unity, symmetry, and wholeness in these images.

My contemporary mandalas were created during an age of pandemic. They are decidedly secular and non-symmetrical. But I hope that they catch the eye of viewer. And present a vision of unexpected harmony amid the apparent fragmentation.

Technical Notes

The mandalas were created with hand-painted cotton rag paper and Asian specialty papers. All the acrylic inks and paints are lightfast, as are the pencil leads. All liquid acrylic and dry contact adhesives are acid-free. Most of the mandalas are either 12x18 inches or 11x17 inches. The irregular deckle-edged paper was created by the artist.