Transcript Mandalas and Radial Balance

Mandalas and Radial Balance
Mandala
• The Term mandala comes from the ancient
Sanskrit language and loosely translates to
mean “circle”.
• Mandalas are used as a symbol in many
religions and examples of mandalas
• abound in nature.
Radial Symmetry
• Radial balance is any type of balance based
on a circle with its design extending from or
focused upon its center.
Radial is the adverb form of the
verb To Radiate..like you can
have radial tires.
Balance
• Radial is the 3rd type of balance. We’v
already discussed the other two kinds of
balance…
• Which are…?
Balance
• Symmetrical Balance- meaning the artwork
is roughly the same on both sides. (remember
artistic symmetry can be approximate while
mathematical symmetry must be exact
Georgia O’Keeffe’s “Cow Skull in Red
White and Blue” is an example of
Symmetrical Balance.
Balance
• Asymmetrical Balance refers to an artwork
where one side of the work does not reflect
the other.
James McNeill Whistler’s painting of his
mother, commonly referred to as
“Whistler’s Mother” is asymmetrically
balanced.
Mandalas
• Mandala’s occur commonly in nature…
Mandalas in Nature
Mandalas in Nature
Mandalas in Nature
• So many things in the natural world have a
radial shape that many religions began to use
the mandala as a symbol for the universe
Mandalas in Religion
• Because the circle is also an unbroken and
infinite shape it has taken on symbolism in
many religions.
Circles in Christianity
• The circle is seen repeatedly throughout
Christianity in the halo, the crown of thorns,
and rosary beads.
Buddhism
• Buddhist monks make amazing and detailed
sand mandalas as a form of meditation
• Monks making a sand mandala
Sand Mandalas
Other mandalas
Can you think of any others I forgot?