Patterns, Motifs, and the Meaning behind the Mandala

BUTUAN CITY – Tinampuso Art Gallery opened a curated group exhibition entitled, “Mandala: Sacred Patterns of Culture and Nature,” featuring artworks by Amihan de Sosa, Ams Tolentino, Carlito Amalla, Chito Alegre, Cris Tamis, Flor Baradi, Jojo Ballo, Lea Zoraina Lim, Libby Limoso, Malaya Santos, Ronnie Rudinas, Vanessa Tan Gana, Zin Ortiz, and Richard Lasam.

The gallery was filled with artworks focusing on the mandala, which originates from the Sanskrit word that means “circle.” Across cultures and through centuries, the mandala has been used by people to express many things: from the self and the subconscious, to sacred spaces and spirituality. Each artist was left to interpret the theme as they saw fit, upholding the call to man’s environmental stewardship and communicating the importance of conservation.

“The group exhibition… explores both the natural world and the artist's role in safeguarding Philippine ecosystems from destruction and overexploitation,” wrote Carlito Amalla of Tinampuso Art Gallery. “The concept was later expanded to include tribal motifs, incorporating indigenous symbols as a tribute to communities whose lives remain intrinsically connected to the landscapes they inhabit, the ancestral knowledge they preserve, and the spiritual traditions they continue to uphold.”

Tribal motifs

For instance, a last-minute addition to the show, Richard Lasam’s Quadrata 06, puts the Agusan Manobo suyam pattern for “Nagkakaisa” at the center of the piece, emphasizing the need for the community to be united in protecting the natural gifts we have: the land and its people.

“[T]he artworks in this exhibition delineate elements of the natural world within circular boundaries, metaphorically creating protective sanctuaries that symbolize the preservation of the Philippines' indigenous flora and fauna, as well as the enduring cultural heritage of its Indigenous communities, within each sacred circle,” Amalla emphasized.

Mandala: Sacred Patterns of Culture and Nature is currently on exhibit at Tinampuso Art Gallery, 084 San Francisco Street, Butuan City. For more information, contact Carlito Amalla.

"The group exhibition… explores both the natural world and the artist's role in safeguarding Philippine ecosystems from destruction and overexploitation." -Carlito Amalla

above: the mandala can be interpreted in many ways, colors, and shapes.

below: Quadrata 06 by richard lasam