3/28 Sun
15:00-16:30 Artist Talk
16:30 Opening

 4/10 Sat
15:00-17:00
Lecture｜LEE Mei Ling ╳ Nick DONG

When the art transcends awareness,
when the mind zones in while spacing out,
when the soul expands like the universe.
                            
— 董承濂  Nick DONG

About MANDALA 

Mandalas, a word translated phonetically from the Sanskrit word “मण्डल”, are known for their elaborate and intricate geometric visualization of thangka symbols.

The purpose of a mandala in tantras is to allow one to “grasp the essence.” In ancient India the “wheel of perfection” and “assembly,” denoted national territories and the altar for worshiping. In lokas of the modern era, however, it symbolizes the Buddhist altar, Buddhist hall or thangka, including worshipped Buddhist statues and images of Bodhisattvas. A mandala visualizes the pure lands of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and symbolizes the pure state of the mind. A mandala is not only a symbol of life itself, but also a microcosmic representation of the universal truth. It is a blueprint for envisioning the heavens, in which varying geometric configurations are symbols of different Buddhas, Bodhisattvas or specific divine realms. With the imageries representing “the infinite macrocosm” and “the inner microcosm,” mandalas are also used in meditation and spiritual practices.

According to the traditional Tibetan tantras, there are “eight offerings” that should be prepared for the Buddhist altar: “water” (for drinking), “water” (for bathing), “flowers,” “incense,” “lamp,” “perfume,” “fruit” and “music.” These cover the spectrum creatures experience from the five sense organs – “eyes, ears, nose, tongue and body” – and when in harmony lead to “the wonderful perfection like the heavenly realm.”

In Nick Dong’s solo exhibition, MANDALA, inspiration comes from the “eight offerings.” The offerings are approached in four sets, with two offerings in each set. They are combined and interwoven into an artistic creation that guides the audience into the spiritual domain. Dong also draws on ideas in astronomy and physics, in particular, how spatial-temporal concepts can be connected with the art. The works are anchored in the concept of “the void.” Minus any narratives or stories, the works serve as a physical channel enabling a complete immersion where the mind can be emptied then an unknown aspects of “the self” can be explored. In this exhibition, each visitor will experience a spiritual feast created through a multi-dimensional audio-visual sensation of a changing cosmos thereby allowing them to transcend their daily routine.