Geometry may not have been a favorite subject in school, but it makes for pleasing artwork. One of our artists, Brian Sylvester, creates symmetrical patterns using basic shapes and clear, intense colors. Most pieces form a mandala, a concentric design built on a large circle, such as this piece, “Blue Ring Mandala.”

Traditionally, a mandala represented the universe: At the center sat the deity, and mankind formed the circle’s edge. In Buddhism and Hinduism, mandalas are a tool for meditation. The devotee would start by observing the outer edge of the design and slowly work his way toward the center. Like the universe, these works are often intricate.

Brian’s work, rather than representing the universe, often represents an aspect of the universe. From a human perspective, some of these aspects are quite large, such as “Sea and Sky”:

While some are small, like the viola, a flower:

If you’re interested in the use of mandalas in meditation, some museums now host meditation groups who focus on a specific piece of art. You can learn more through this Art News blog post. If you like Brian’s work so much you’d like wear it, you’re in luck. He sells t-shirts. Just don’t be surprised if you find people “meditating” on your chest.

You can also explore making your own mandala, but if you do, you have to promise to report back to us here on WallSpin to let us know how it goes!

Related articles

• Masters of Gouache (zatista.com)
• Wood Works (zatista.com)
• The Art of Observation (zatista.com)
• Flower Mandalas Showcase Beautiful Blossoms (proflowers.com:80)