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Published on January 14, 2021
"Buddha Dot Mandala”
"Emerald Dot Mandala”
"Om Dot Mandala"
Geeta Thapa
Health Sciences Assistant Professor Geeta Thapa presented “Maya Mandala,” an exhibit of dot mandala art from Dec. 19-27 in the Kathmandu Kitchen and Bar in Storrs. The artwork was on sale, with proceeds supporting a rural health clinic in Nepal.
Thapa is from Nepal and was raised in Hong Kong. She was trained as a medical doctor in Nepal and has lived in the United States for the past 13 years. Thapa has always been passionate about the mandalas that Buddhist monks make with sand, as well as the mandala paintings that are sold in the streets of Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal.
A mandala, which literally means “circle” in Sanskrit, is a geometric configuration of symbols and is used as a spiritual guidance tool for meditation, contemplation and peace in various Asian religious and spiritual traditions.
She has recently discovered her skill in making mandalas using small dots of paint. Her mandalas are mainly inspired by Buddhist and Hindu symbolism, such as the “Om” symbol, the flute-playing Lord Krishna, and the Third Eye of Shiva, but she also enjoys making contemporary designs.
As an amateur artist, Thapa says she believes art explores creativity, achieves peacefulness of mind and allows her to express in a tangible way the inspiration she receives from her Nepalese background and cultural values.
“Mandalas are used as spiritual guidance tool for meditation, contemplation and peace in various Asian religious and spiritual cultures,” she said. “I enjoy making Mandalas and was excited to have this art show for the first time.”
In fall 2020, Thapa’s dot mandala paintings were featured online in an art exhibition sponsored by Windham Regional Arts Council (WRAC) called “Creating While Isolating.”
Written by Dwight Bachman