Imperfect Symmetry: Bala Thiagarajan

July 19 - August 30, 2019
Reception: Friday, August 2, 5-7 PM

Born and brought up in Chennai, India, I have a passion for colors and patterns that are inspired by the Indian culture. I started my art career when I combined the techniques of henna body art, kolams & rangolis, to create free-hand textured paintings in 2012.

I use small piping bags & squeeze bottles to form dots & lines with acrylic paints on canvas. My works of henna-inspired designs, Mandalas and animal abstracts are my attempt to capture the ephemeral  nature of these everyday art forms onto more enduring surfaces. 

I paint intuitively and the symmetry of the paintings comes from a meditative practice of organic repetition, with the finished piece full of rhythm and color.  My color palette reflects the colors of silk and cotton saris worn by women in South India. I have been combining my biology background and my love for math--fractals and geometry--in the works I create.