Rethinking Radial Balance

As a socially conscious art educator, I strive to ensure my lessons are not appropriating from cultures that are not my own. I have not always been as aware as I am now, but I keep learning and trying to do better. I have taught a radial balance printmaking lesson to eighth-graders for many years, and in the beginning of my career, I referred to these designs as “mandalas.”

The word mandala comes from the Sanskrit meaning “circle,” and in Hindu and Buddhist traditions, it is a sacred symbol that is used for meditation and as a representation of the universe. After noticing the ubiquity of adult coloring books featuring mandalas, I began to question my own teaching of these designs and how I could alter the lesson to be more inclusive of cultures and to avoid misrepresenting or appropriating them.

Radial Balance in Different Cultures
Radial balance as a theme in art has existed in many cultures throughout history. While the Hindu and Buddhist mandalas are some of the most well-known examples, there are countless others that I wanted to introduce to my students. I assigned them each an object to research that featured radial balance, such as Tibetan sand mandalas, Navajo sand paintings, Indian rangoli, Mayan calendars, Islamic tiles, and stained-glass rose windows.

I wanted students to see what all these objects have in common so they could begin to consider our Essential Question: Why have circles been used as sacred symbols in so many different cultures throughout history? We then looked closer at several of the objects to learn their significance.

We watched videos of Buddhist monks performing a sand ceremony, and Navajo artist Zachariah Ben as he explained how he creates sand paintings and the spiritual significance of them. We discussed how rangoli are thought to bring good energy and welcome Hindu gods into a household.

We watched videos of Buddhist monks performing a sand ceremony, and Navajo artist Zachariah Ben as he explained how he creates sand paintings and the spiritual significance of them. We discussed how rangoli are thought to bring good energy and welcome Hindu gods into a household.

Connecting to the Contemporary
We also looked at several artists who use radial balance in their work to see how cultural practices can be honored and explored through contemporary art. Pakistani-American artist Anila Quayyum Agha’s fascinating work plays with light and shadow and references Islamic sacred spaces. Another great resource is the work of Jen Stark, whose sculptural works often reference sacred geometry and the complex radial balance that can be seen in the natural world. Examples of radial balance can be found everywhere, from snowflakes to orange slices to the irises of our eyes.

Printed Radial Designs
Armed with this knowledge and context, my students set out to create their own versions of radially balanced designs. They carved patterns into a block cut to an eighth of a 12" (30 cm) circle and printed in the round. If their pattern wasn’t symmetrical, they reversed it onto the other side of the printing block and printed by alternating each side around the circle.

To expand the design into the margins of the 18" (46 cm) paper, they used tracing paper to create an extended design that either reflected or contradicted their printed design and then copied this around the border. We finished the pieces with chalk and marker.

Final Thoughts
While the completed projects are fabulous, I am most proud of my students for learning why radially balanced designs are used as a form of mindfulness and meditation in many cultures, and the spiritual significance of many of these objects.