Still Life, 2020
digital drawing made on Illustrator
This was my final project for the first-year Objects as History course in which were tasked to create our own mandala.
Mandalas are symbolic representations of the universe. They are visual manifestations of an individual's journey toward a deeper sense of self which he achieves by drawing inward. My mandala is a modern interpretation of the universe - pared down and simplified to let the viewer more easily access this feeling of “enlightenment”. Equally calming is the process of creating the mandala: focusing on the alignment and repetition of shapes forces one to focus. Making a mandala also invites reflection on the concepts of connection and separation, collectivity and individuality, whole and parts. These meditations are even more relevant in these trying times. As we are all forced to stay apart from one another, we have also been confronted to the reality that we are all one. We are interconnected and dependent on one another. Western societies reinforce the belief that the self is more important than the whole, but coronavirus has unearthed the universality of uncomfortable feelings. It is unfortunate that it has taken a pandemic for us humans to realize just how inextricably linked we are.
Mandalas typically feature very intricate designs to reflect the complexity of the universe. However, as I have been compelled to re-evaluate my life and belongings, I have developed a new appreciation for the small and simple things, the seemingly mundane moments I used to brush over. Nature makes clear to us that time goes on, and perhaps most importantly, that we are but an infinitesimal element in the vastness that is the universe. I am reminded to stop obsessing and dwelling over things that are, ultimately, inconsequential. There are things bigger and more important than me. Thus, my design aims to translate a sense of simplicity and harmony by relying on basic foundational shapes. This draws the focus on the essential qualities of the universe. Furthermore, the use of organic amorphous shapes balances the precise geometric and symmetrical compositions that are distinctive of mandalas.
As I was creating the design, I was soaking up inspiration from Instagram which is right now the most abundant resource for artistic fodder. I fell upon one of my favorite photographers who has been creating still life photographs of flowers, plants, and food during this pandemic. Like mandalas, her photographs display a unique sense of harmony: the compositions reveal the careful attention paid to the way the bouquet of flowers is arranged or petals scattered on a table, while the selection of colors and manipulation of light create beauty. The photos emphasize the intricacies of her subjects like the flowers' folds, the wrinkles in the linen, or the grain in the wood, yet they somehow remain exceptionally simple. All my attention is captured by this exquisite moment of pure balance, similar to the effect of looking at a mandala.
As such, her works follow similar principles than those of mandalas: emphasizing minute details as well as the composition as a whole to create balance, harmony, and ultimately, serenity. And so, in keeping with my philosophy of noticing and appreciating the everyday, I decided to take inspiration from her works - even if it is not explicitly related to mandalas.
Finally, in most of my visual work, I draw upon organic life to create distinct palettes of warm colors: subdued tones of orange and brown, soft pastel pinks, creamy oatmeal beiges, milky whites, and perhaps my favorite color range, deep dark burgundy reds. Occasionally, I will add a speck of cool colors such as blue or green, but it always maintains a muted aesthetic. I find this palette of colors to be extremely seductive and soothing, as well as what I like to call "wholesome", which refers to something that is well-rounded, complete, and pure. This mandala works in continuity with my works, the toned down colors also serving to convey tranquility and peace.
Thus, in an attempt to integrate the philosophy of mandalas into my personal minimalist aesthetic, I created Still Life. The title evokes the feeling we are now submerged as we self quarantine: life seems to have come at a standstill and we are invited to look at still life subjects in a new light. The term still life also encourages contemplation and meditation which are essential components of mandalas.