Sense, Symmetry & the Sacred

Human cultures have had a sacred sense of symmetry since time immemorial. Certain patterns emerge universally irrespective of time and space, and these are often used in creating centres of ritual and higher meaning. The geometric symbols of circles, squares and especially triangles have been seen in the architecture of iconic monuments in our history! However, the purpose of these repeated and precise shapes is unknown and still shrouded in mystery. Are they inherent to us and come up instinctively in the human mind, spanning cultures and generations? Or are they found in nature and hence replicated by us subconsciously? Whatever the answer may be, it all comes down to a sense.

Artists Vijay Shinde and Harshavardhana Swaminathan’s art has been created from this distinct sense guidance. There is no end destination or product in mind, only a natural movement of the hand completely disconnected from logical strategy. The repetition that we can see of these symbols is evidence of an almost trancelike process that is a deep kind of meditation for the artist. The works however are rarely quiet and both achieve nuance and intensity in their depictions – triggering a cathartic outburst of emotions in the viewer. While the symmetry is pleasing, the work itself isn’t supposed to be comfortable, it is supposed to be a catalyst for introspection. The vibrant yet dark colours, the messy, unpredictable strokes and the mirroring of pattern showcase dichotomy. This is a reflection of us and our world, a sort of triggering that only very few spaces can achieve. The sacred ones.