How it started.
Bringing the art to you
Growing up in the city of Chicago I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by its amazing architecture, vibrant cultural and artistic scene. And of course, its many museums. The Art Institute of Chicago, however, was always my favorite.
When I was very young, my grandmother took me to see the Claude Monet exhibit. It completely wowed me! The bright colors, the size of these paintings, the scenes of bridges and waterlilies transported me into this world of beauty and elegance. At that moment I vowed to become an artist.
On my own and at university. I've studied ceramics, metalworking, oil painting and drawing, photography and digital art. I have learned a multitude of skills through my almost two-decade long career while receiving some accolades along the way.
But my passion for mandalas began early in my career. During high school I'd spend my free time drawing crude symmetrical doodles that were loosely inspired by stained glass windows and Celtic knots but at the time I didn't think too much of them. I also am a bit of and art nerd and always had my nose in books. Which is where I came across the works of Maurits Cornelis Escher, more widely known as M.C. Escher. His use of patterns and optical illusion sparked a fire for my love of geometric and patterned designs. which led me down the research rabbit hole to find sacred and Islamic geometrical artwork, architectural decoration, cultural pattern traditions, patterns in our natural world, fractals and much more.
What exactly is a mandala?
I thought you'd never ask. Mandalas, originating from the Sanskrit word for "circle," are intricate geometric designs characterized by their symmetrical form. Symbolizing a representation of the universe, they encompass both outer and inner manifestations of the world. In various religious traditions, particularly within Buddhism, mandalas are revered as mystical circles devoid of origin or end, mirroring the infinite expanse of the cosmos.
Throughout history, mandalas have served as focal points for concentration, aiding in practices such as meditation. Their symmetrical structure draws attention in towards the center, enhancing focus on a singular point. While deeply rooted in Eastern philosophies like Buddhism and Hinduism, mandalas have also been embraced by Western thought and proved beneficial in many art therapy practices.
My artwork is a tribute to the artists and craftsmen throughout the ages. By human hand, imagination, and teamwork these people were able to create magnificent structures, intricate patterns and masterpieces of artwork without the help of modern technology. Like them, my own art pieces are all hand drawn and hand crafted. NO computers. NO AI. Each design is unique, and like snowflakes, no two mandalas are alike. These mandalas are my representation of the microcosm and macrocosm of our world. We see these patterns throughout our lives without even knowing it. As small as atoms and molecules to as large as star clusters and galaxies. This demonstrates how interconnected we are to the natural universe around us.
Aristotle once wrote, "In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous"
I hope you enjoy my artwork.
Best always,
Daniel Kurnick
