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mandala art

Mandala Art: The Symbol Of The Universe

December 29 2020
art, culture, philosophy, psychology, religion

     Humans throughout history have used art as a bridge between their emotions and the outer world. It is the projection of their inner experience with all its complexities and magnificence. One of the popular art forms is the Mandala. Tourists who travel to India notice the beautiful geometrical designs on the walls and the ceilings of temples. Those images are “mandala” which literally translates to “circle” in Sanskrit.

    In their most basic form, mandalas are circles contained within a square and arranged into sections that are all organized around a central point. They’re typically produced on paper or cloth, or drawn on surfaces. 

    Mandala is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism and one of their most iconic artworks. Buddhists produced it in Tibet, India, Nepal, China, Japan, Bhutan, and Indonesia. It dates from the 4th century to the present. These mandalas are highly complex paintings with captivating details and rich colors. However, For Hindus and Buddhists, they are more than artistic designs. A mandala represents a symbol of an ideal universe. 

 

What Is The Significance Of Mandala Designs? 

    In most cultures, the circle is a symbol of unity, wholeness, and oneness. It also symbolizes the womb, motherhood, and nurturing.

    Mandalas are interpreted in two ways: external and internal. Externally it is a visual representation of the universe. The circular designs symbolize the completion and infinity of life. Then there is the dot or the center which is seen as the starting point from which everything begins. The dot is surrounded by different geometrical shapes and patterns symbolizing the connection of the different systems in the universe. 

    The mandala could also have an internal meaning. For instance, it could represent the spiritual journey of the individual and his inner life. In other words, Mandalas show the unity of the cosmos and how everyone fits in it as a connected system. 

    In Hinduism and Buddhism, the belief is that by moving towards its center, you are going through a transformative process that brings healing into your life.

 

Different Mandala Types

   The Lotus: The lotus flower has a deep significance in Asian cultures. Buddhists view it as a symbol of detachment from the materialistic world and living a more spiritual life. Buddha said that the lotus is an example of how the dirt of the body can not burden the soul just like the lotus that floats on water. 

 

 The Elephant:  It symbolizes great power and strength. First, there is the grey elephant, which is a sign of the mind that should not be distracted by the suffering, while the white elephant represents the state of true enlightenment that is achieved through mindful meditation.

 

The Flower Of Life: It features complex geometric designs. These designs trace back to Northern Africa and Mesopotamia. Modern users believe that it is a sacred geometric shape that promotes focus and concentration during meditation.

   The Circle: They are the most common form of Mandala and the easiest to draw.

 

The Different Uses And Types of Mandala:

   There are various types of mandala art in Asian cultures, here are some common types that serve different purposes:

 1.Teaching Mandala: Teaching mandalas are symbolic, and each shape and color represents a different aspect of a philosophical or religious system.  For instance, the student creates their own mandala projecting a visual symbolization of everything they have learned. Teaching mandala designs serve as mental maps for their creators.

  2.Sand Mandala:  Buddhist monks have long used sand mandalas as a traditional, religious element. These designs use a variety of symbols made from colored sand that represent the impermanence of human life.

   The construction of this mandala begins with a ceremony in which the monks consecrate the site and call forth forces of goodness through chants and music. Then, over the course of ten days, the monks will pour colored sand. Shortly after its completion, the monks will disperse the sand to symbolize the impermanence of existence.

 3.Healing Mandala: Healing mandala designs are made for the purpose of meditation. Evidently, they evoke calmness and enhance concentration to silence disturbing thoughts and anxiety.  In modern days, mandalas have become a popular symbol of meditation used for appreciating the beauty of nature and forming a connection with oneself.

Mandala  in Psychology:

   The primary use of mandala art is as a form of meditation to gain knowledge from within. Moreover, Buddhists believe that meditating on mandala brings profound inner transformation. Whenever their minds wander with thoughts, they bring their focus back to the center. They believe that the beauty of this geometrical design should absorb their full attention. So this kind of meditation gives more relaxation and centeredness. 

   Carl Jung, a popular Swiss psychoanalyst, was the first to introduce mandala art to western scholars. He became fascinated by their therapeutic powers. For him, mandala designs represent the psychological self and lead to self-awareness and healing. Moreover, they exhibit the divinity of the self since the circle is a symbol of the wholeness of the psyche. For example, drawing complete designs of Mandalas unconsciously helps individuals with integration and individuation.

 

    Nowadays, people color mandala designs to reduce stress. It also allows expressing the creative side. Drawing Mandala designs became a hobby among art lovers. To reach the full effects, they let their instincts guide them without analysis or following certain rules. The choice of colors and shapes flows naturally. 

Mandala Art In Modern Life:

    Modern consumerism has linked mandala art to the bohemian lifestyle. So we can find these designs in decoration, fashion, beauty, and other aspects. Elephant mandalas have become extremely popular in Western cultures. 

    In modern life, people use mandala designs in a variety of ways. In yoga, mandalas represent a sacred space to exclude external influences. Often, Monks and Yoga coaches draw mandalas during meditation. Similarly, Native Americans use it in healing circles, and this act has spread worldwide. The circles are useful for the restoration of the body, mind, and heart. Also, if you look at a Dreamcatcher, which is a popular item that has an Amerindian origin, it also has the shape and patterns of Mandalas.

Mandala Art In Other Cultures:

   We can find similar geometrical designs in other cultures like Christian and Islamic architecture. even Native American culture includes similar designs under different names.

   Today, they have become so popular worldwide. Consequently, artists are competing to break the records of the most complicated and mesmerizing Mandala designs. 

   Mandala art is a popular tool for meditation since their designs reduce negative thoughts and bring harmony, but not just for this reason. Ultimately, people create mandalas to center the body and mind. 

            Author: Hibat Errahmane Hadjadj

art

Separating the Art from the Artist: A Debate

October 12 2020
art, artists

The recent article by a fellow member of Algerian Black Pearl: ‘Is Cancel Culture Canceling Free Speech?’ made the debate over whether you can separate the art from the artist come to mind.

The article briefly mentioned the backlash author J.K Rowling received this summer. A lot of Harry Potter fans took to social media to express their disappointment at Rowling’s transphobic comments, with most agreeing that she had now ruined their love for the series. Buzzfeed asked their community how their relationship with Harry Potter changed following the incident, with the majority of the answers deplorable.

  • J.K Rowling wasn’t the first person whose art became questionable. 

J.K Rowling wasn’t the first person whose art became questionable after a controversy. Roman Polanski and Woody Allen, once considered brilliant movie directors, had their credibility tarnished amid sexual abuse accusations. People were reluctant to show their appreciation for their works. The same thing happened to singers R. Kelly, and XXXTentacion whose music was bitterly received following their controversies — their accusations were sexual misconduct, and domestic abuse respectively. Streaming service Spotify had even stopped promoting, and recommending their music on their platform.

There are many other artists whose works arose the same, repeated question: can you separate the art from the artist? 

  • To some, it is imperative. 

Many people believe that separating art from the artist is mandatory. The quality of art should not depend on the artist’s character. Once it is out there, it stops belonging to the person who created it. It takes on a life of its own. When this question was asked on Reddit, one user commented: “great art is bigger than the artist who created it.” Meaning people’s interpretations of it should not be held down by external factors, such as the artist’s private life. 

Reading up the context of a given piece — a novel, a song, a movie — is favorable. It gives you a contextual insight into the creator’s thoughts when delivering their art. It helps you understand how it came to exist. Though it shouldn’t force you to view it a certain way when consuming it. People react differently; what sparks up emotions in one person doesn’t necessarily mean the same for everybody else.  And so: the art should not be boycotted if the artist is. In her essay, philosophy professor Jenna Thompson concluded: “We should expose the wrongdoing of artists and but we should not be prevented from admiring their works.”

  • Not everyone holds this same view, though. To so many others, art is an inseparable characteristic of the person that created it. 

It is not possible to consider art a piece of its own, without thinking of the person who created it. Even if subtly, it will always hold undertones of its creator. This is what the opposing argument is. One cannot orchestrate an entire body of work without peppering smudges of their personality into it. It is impossible to be entirely unbiased. As one Twitter user explained it: “the work an artist creates is directly tied to their morals as a human being; one’s work and one’s values are not separate.”

Keeping an artist’s terrible character in mind will undoubtedly reflect how you consume their work. And if the artist is a terrible person, then there is no reason to give them a platform for more harm. The backlash against J.K Rowling was justified as such. The fact that she is still actively profiting from Harry Potter should be an incentive to stop supporting her work. Fans, since then, opted out of the series’ merchandise.

Their general consensus is: art does not function as a redeemable quality. People should not be excused because the art they are making is good. 

  • An alternative: a case-by-case basis. 

There is a third view of this debate, however. One that does not lean too far into either side. 

A suggestion that separating the art from the artist should be done case-by-case. The artist should be censored (and boycotted) if their art directly causes harm. If their art is an expression of their beliefs, then their work as a whole should be rejected. Take Pablo Picasso for example. Considering his misogyny, his paintings of women become difficult to separate from his identity. His art directly correlates with his beliefs, and so should not be glorified. The key, therefore, is to be critical.

Sometimes, the debate even becomes futile if the artist is dead. Some people believe that since the artist is no longer benefiting from the engagement, then it is safe to consume it. Financial support is important. If you are not boosting this horrible person’s income, separating the art from the artist becomes relatively easy.

At the end of the day, art is expression. It all comes down to your own perception of it. How you individually react to its context, and the artist’s biography; whether their values represent yours or not.

 

Author: Nachoua Nour NAIT ALI

 

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