Gifts of Art presents Kolam – Memories & Patterns: Mixed Media by Shanthi Chandrasekar

Kolams are traditional temporary floor drawings made by Tamil women every day at sunrise and sunset in front of their houses using rice or rock powder that embody the cosmos and are embedded with philosophy, life lessons and math concepts. They serve as a reminder of impermanence and the importance of non-attachment at all scales. 

Shanthi Chandrasekar, a Maryland-based multimedia and multidisciplinary artist with an academic background in physics and psychology, juxtaposes traditional Kolams with concepts from cosmology, math and neuroscience along with underlying cultural significance. She explores abstract science concepts such as energy, fields and information through Kolams while bringing out mathematical aspects in geometry, prime number patterns, and combinations through drawings and paintings. Making art is a thought-provoking, contemplative and meditative process for Shanthi.

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