Homage to Miró, Zen Dot, acrylic on canvas, 84" x 60", 2001
Geometry plays a profound role in art, and nowhere is this more evident in my work than in my use of circles. They carry a spiritual connotation, representing unity, infinity, and time. With no beginning or end, a circle can be viewed as a static whole or an endlessly moving cycle. Many celestial phenomena are circular - the sun, the earth, the moon, the orbits of the planets, the universe, and countless cultures and religions have viewed the circle as a significant symbol. In Chinese symbology for instance, the circle represents the shape of heaven, juxtaposed with the square symbol of earth to represent the connection between our spiritual and physical natures. The famous yin yang symbol meanwhile utilizes the circle as a frame to represent balance in conflict.
Impressions, Dreamland, acrylic on canvas, 48" x 60", 2013
In my own work, the circle prominently appears in each series. They arise in the abundant dotting of Dreamland, the abstract orbs of Gross National Happiness, the yantras of Worlds Collide, the chakras of Zen Dot Energy, and the various mandalas of Unseen Universes. My use of circles has for the most part been unconscious, and it wasn’t until I recently looked back and reflected that I saw the importance of this visual and thematic rapport.
Large mandalas, Unseen Universes
Redemption, Worlds Collide, acrylic on canvas, 72" x 120", 2009
Amidst the animated dotting of Zen Dot Energy, chakras become a common motif, appearing in many of the paintings including Black White Red, Equilibrium, and One of Many. The word “chakra” is a Sanskrit word that means “wheel”, as these centers of energy rotate and thrive within our spiritual selves. The following series Unseen Universes was perhaps my most deliberate use of circles as I utilized circular canvases that were then attached to the background paintings, allowing the circle to stand out and take on a life of its own. This method was utilized in paintings such as Ode to Georgia O’Keeffe, Mandala in Nature, Cosmic Quilt, and Ways To Go. The abstract colorful circles of GNH and the electric dotting of Dreamland meanwhile convey a spiritual vibrance in the artwork. They are not the focus of the work but rather controlling elements of the background, adding further structure to each piece.
Mandalas from Cosmic Quilt, Unseen Universes
For me, the circle is highly spiritual. There is something so significant about how a shape so simple can carry so many different connotations. In painting, the use of such a common symbol can at times be subconscious - the power of the repetition is something that grows over time and across many visual landscapes within series. I see the symbol of the circle as a resonating tone that moves in waves through my works, generating an intrinsic harmony within the saturated and complex visual realm. It is perhaps my quiet guide, my familiar path, moving forever in step with nature's sacred cycle of life. You can certainly expect to continue seeing this sacred symbol featured in my work in the future.