Mandala Elemental is a representation of nine different elements that make up the universe: Earth, Air, Water, Fire, Metal, Plants, Animals, the Void, and Light/Creation.

Mandala is a ancient Sanskrit term meaning "circle." Today it is generally used to refer to geometric patterns that symbolically represent the cosmos. Some religious sects create mandalas from sand, hand scattered onto the floor over a period of days. All mandalas share a common intent of providing a focus point for meditation, a sort of visual "om."

The mandalas I have created for Mandala Elemental follow this plan of geometrical patterning, symbolic representation and intent for meditative study. Each of the mandalas can be studied in sequence during meditation to provide a flow of attention, or a single mandala can be studied to explore its individual meaning as interpreted by the viewer at that time.

Technically, each mandala is comprised of a single digitally captured image of a real instance of the element represented by the mandala.. The image is then manipulated through complex geometric functions that create a "warp field" that transforms the original 2D image into a 3D "lightsphere", which is then projected back to 2D form, now distorted into the new geometry. Adjustments of colour, contrast and tone are then made to finish each mandala.

About the Images
I feel it is important not to reveal too much about the mandalas before you have a chance to study them, so I'm placing mandala-specific commentary in a second gallery. When you are ready to learn more, click here.

Click a mandala to view it larger.