Check out this Spectacular Mandala by Graham Stephen of Mandala Vihara!
Mandala – a geometric figure representing the universe in Hindu and Buddhist symbolism.
Vihara – a Buddhist monastery and place of religious education.
For many years I have been a fan of Graham’s mandala art. Every so often on my art hunts, I’ll find something that is not a full mandala, but mandala-ish, and I think of Graham.
It was upon finding this mandala-ish paste-up with eyes in the centre, that I considered a mandala theme post, and dedicating it to Graham.
Better, why not involve him?
I asked, he agreed and said “Looking forward to seeing your collection of street mandalishes + 1 gowndala.”
Wait until you see this “Gowndala”!
Mandala-ishes Collection
We chat with Graham as the collection is shown.
Resa – What drew you into making your gorgeous mandalas?
Graham – The intricately beautiful sand mandalas created by Tibetan Buddhist monks have long fascinated me. After spending days laboriously creating those wonderful designs, with great non-attachment the monks sweep away the sand in an act symbolic of Impermanence.
Resa – That is of keen interest to me, as the ephemerality of street art is what drives me to it.
Graham – So, about seven years ago when I happened to come across some mandalas online created from digital photographs, the thought arose that that could be a fun thing to try. The best part turned out to be being able to lose yourself in the creative process.
Graham – That applying orders of rotational symmetry to various real-life scenes of nature, architecture, and so on, should give rise to such an endless variety of outcomes is also rather satisfying. And then there is the aspect of pareidolia — it can be fun looking for unexpected forms such as faces created by the new alignments of the rearranged slices of reality.
Graham – Digital mandalas may seem to be more durable than their Tibetan sand counterparts, but at some stage they too will, inevitably, be long forgotten. At another level, and as with any image on the web, their existence is only fleeting — being reborn each time the page is viewed and then dissolving back into emptiness when the viewer clicks away…
Resa – You pair quotes with your mandalas. Are the quotes you pair with your mandalas inspired by the mandala? ie: you have the mandala then search for a quote that works, OR do you have a quote and then are inspired to make the mandala to go with it?
Graham – Actually, neither! This part of the process is surrendered to chance. When it comes to drafting a post, the mandala just gets paired up with the next unused item from my collection of quotes. Sometimes they complement each other, sometimes they contrast, and at other times there may seem to be no apparent connection — the unpredictability of the random juxtaposition is a bit of fun, with echoes of the “cut-up” technique of Dadaism.
Resa – Oooo, I love that!
Resa – Do you purposely take a photo of something because it will make a fab mandala?
Graham – Rarely. In practice I tend to review all the shots afterwards when editing a series of photographs and select one or two of any that might be suitable.
I began looking for mandala-ishes everywhere, indoors and outdoors.
I have unfortunately been visiting a friend at the Toronto General Hospital over the last couple of weeks. In the hallway is a Mosaic Mural made from 10,000 tabs, lids, pins, levers, screws and connectors collected over 28 years by nurse Tilda Shalof.
Within the mosaic are several mandala-ishes . Those, and information on the mosaic can be seen in the slide show above. Below is the entire piece.
Très ish mandala-ish
The above work of art by Gordon Rayner was hanging in a random hallway, in a converted warehouse/factory filled with artsy retailers.
The Most Beautiful Mandala … Ever!
Lilac Fan Dance is Thunder’s (aka Dale) dedicated Art Gown.
Thinking the texture and colours would make a cool Mandala, I sent 3 pics of her to Graham.
He chose the first one saying,
Graham – “as that one had a nice bit of plain background to the left to create a bit of negative space around the result.”
OMG! LOVE THIS!
Thank You Graham!
Visit Graham from MANDALA VIHARA! It’s a beautiful place.
Graffiti Lux Art & More 
Just one word…..HOW? The art gown mandala is phenomenal! How a photo of an exquisite gown turns into the mandala is…beyond me. Congrats and thanks to both of you for sharing.
My attempts at mandala images were not quite as spectacular as these – however I may have seen a few lightsabers in Nurse Tilda mosaic mandala…..
Thanks Tyeth!
Yes, that gown mandal is stunning. I am so honoured Graham did that.
Many things can be found in Nurse Tilda’s mosaic. It’s a beauty. Cheers!
Wow, loved this intriguing and insightful conversation between you and Graham. This mandala-ish street art is just stunning! The rotation symmetry to real-life scenes that Graham talks about is fascinating stuff. I think this symmetry is what makes me really like this style, as it seems to speak to the soul, and also draws the eye in a mesmerizing way that’s intensely thoughtful and poetic, almost. I love your art gown mandala, Resa – it’s spectacular! 👗💜
Thank you Ada!
I was thrilled when Graham said he would join me in a post on Mandalas (ishes)
His work is stunning and his answers to my questions do go directly to soul.
Yes… his mandalas are a visual poetry. You have said that beautifully, Ada.
Thank you so much for checking out this art, and you wonderful comment!
😘❦🕊💙
Wow! What a great collection of street mandalishes. Love it 💜 And that hospital mural is especially striking.
⬻𓂀☆♡ 🎀 𝐺𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑣𝑦 🎀 ♡☆𓂀⤖
Thank you so much for joining me , Graham!
Yes, I thought you would like the hospital mural. I was quite moved by it.
Please feel free to answer any comments. I see many are impressed with your art!
⬻𓂀☆♡ 🎀 𝐺𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑣𝑦 🎀 ♡☆𓂀⤖
(back at you!)
👌👍🌟✨💫
I love this beautiful vivid and symbolic art. I never knew they are mandalas. Live and learn. Thank you Resa and graham, such a beautiful post and interview.
xoxoxoxo
You are welcome dear Holly!
Yes, they are mandalas and they are gorgeous.
I so enjoyed doing this post, and am beside myself with Graham’s Art Gown mandala.
xoxoxoxo
I’m down to 18 pics of NY to chose from, to send you. I’ll get it down to 6 -8!
xoxoxoxoxo
18 pics!! Omg!! You’re incredible. ❤️
HA! I got that down from about 50.
I keep doing touch ups..and after I made that comment, I took a few more, just in case.
I need to get my presentation to you down to a reasonable size! ❦🕊🌟 ❦🕊🌟 ❦🕊🌟
What is NOT to love about art and all its many splendored inspirations. You and Graham have teamed up to remind us once again why art matters so much. It makes sense that the mandala was created by those who do not wish to own but simply borrow nature’s graces. And that gown! Absolutely amazing!
Brava! and . . Bravo!
Thank you dear Marc!
Yes, now that you mention it, art is like money or any physical object. Even if you own it, you can’t take it with you.
I suppose you could be buried with it all.
Like your billion $$ art collection, that you hoarded, didn’t share with the world and refuse to donate/will to a gallery when you are gone, your mansion, cars, cash, etc… just dig one big hole and throw it all in there.
Man’s need to collect “things” is an interesting subject.
Does that make us feel more permanent in an ephemeral reality?
Anyway, I’ve always been smitten by the ephemerality of street art, and the fact that some really talented artists do it, knowing it could be defaced an hour later..
Thank you about the gown (Dale’s), and
MUAH!
So very beuatiful Resa.
Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Maggie!
I love everything about art. The eye candy, the meanings, messages, history depicted, social movements documented, styles of times…and on.
And I especially love sharing it.
Such beautiful art, and such a fascinating discussion of the creative process. Art is endless and ephemeral.
I like to think about how many incarnations the fabric of the gown has had, since I know Resa uses recycled materials.
Thank you Merril!
Be still my beating art!
The ruffles on that gown are from lace yardage I bought 10 years ago from an interior decoration supply shop that closed down after 40 years.
They dug up stuff from their basement for weeks. That yardage was probably from the 80’s. I paid $2.00/yd for it. AND it was curtain yardage so it was 60″ wide.
I made 2 other gowns using it, and this was the leftover scraps, that I painted with acrylic paints I inherited from Norm’s dad. The dates on the tubes were all late 80’s early 90’s.
Love how you get me going! 💙
Such an interesting interview with Graham, Resa, and the art gown mandala is incredible (both in its form and coloring)!
Thanks Dave!
I am in love with the mandala Graham made from the Art Gown pic. Wow!
Wow indeed, Resa!
Fun art and backstory Resa. Your gown became a vibrant mandala-ish. I prefer the symmetry and patterns of traditional mandalas, but Graham’s art is fun and creative.
Thanks Brad!
Mandalas have always been intriguing to me.
Graham’s gown mandala is fabulous. I love it.
This post is tailor made for me- as mandalas are my go-to design. I love them and choose them whenever they are an option. The mosaic mural from Toronto General is absolutely amazing!
Violet,
How cool that you are into mandalas. May you find many more to choose from!
Yes the hospital mosaic is crazy amazing.
If I hadn’t been caught up in this post with Graham, I would not have taken pics. That would have been a missed opportunity to look at a purposeful work of art. After all, my gown art is all about recycling.
So happy to see you here, thank you!
Very interesting interview – I liked the fact that even a precise piece of art includes an element of chance. Sand castles and ice sculptures – wonders for only a day!
Resa and Grapham, this is such a wonderful interview. What I love most is not only Graham’s process, which includes the rotational symmetry, the play with pareidolia, the surrender to chance, but the spirit of impermanence that runs through it. The idea that even digital mandalas are fleeting, reborn each time they are viewed and dissolving when we click away, feels so beautifully aligned with the Tibetan tradition that first inspired him.
Seeing your Art Gown transformed into a mandala is extraordinary. The texture, the colour, the movement becomes something entirely new while still carrying the original energy. That feels symbolic of what you’re doing here. That is, gathering creative spirits and allowing their work to echo in unexpected ways. There’s a generosity in this kind of artistic exchange.
Yes, I too found Graham’s thoughts intriguing, full of intellect that I can relate to.
The gown mandala is precious. I am thrilled. This has been a most fun project!
Thank you, Rebecca!
What a fantabulous post, dear Sorceress! (Love “my” gown as a mandala, too!)
Your collaboration with Graham is truly wonderful.
I love what you do!
A wonderful post, Resa. The mandala art form is new to me and I enjoyed learning more. Your interview with Graham was fascinating. Your gown mandala turned out beautifully. Thanks for sharing. 🐂
Such beautiful patterns and shapes, Resa xx