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Symmetry is where one part of an Symmetry is where one part of an image is balanced or mirrored by the image is balanced or mirrored by the other side.other side.

radialradial, , radiateradiate, and, and radial balance radial balance - - Radial means anything of, relating Radial means anything of, relating

to, or arranged like to, or arranged like raysrays..

This means images which This means images which seem to start in the seem to start in the center and move center and move outwards in all directions outwards in all directions simultaneously.simultaneously.

A star, the iris around A star, the iris around your eyes, a wheel with your eyes, a wheel with spokes, and a daisy spokes, and a daisy (among many other plant (among many other plant forms) are examples of forms) are examples of radial balance.radial balance.

Nature contains an abundance of Nature contains an abundance of radial symmetry and balance, from radial symmetry and balance, from plants to water swirling down the plants to water swirling down the drain.drain.

Artists also have used symmetry, Artists also have used symmetry, from old cathedral windows …from old cathedral windows …

……to watermelons!...to watermelons!...

As an artform, radial As an artform, radial symmetry is symmetry is commonly found in commonly found in the works of the works of mandalas, such as mandalas, such as the sacred sand the sacred sand paintings by paintings by Tibetan monks.Tibetan monks.

From all the artistic From all the artistic traditions of Tantric traditions of Tantric Buddhism, that of Buddhism, that of painting with colored painting with colored sand, ranks as one of the sand, ranks as one of the most unique and most unique and exquisite. In Tibetan this exquisite. In Tibetan this art is called art is called dul-tson-kyil-dul-tson-kyil-khorkhor, which literally , which literally means "mandala of means "mandala of colored powders." colored powders." Millions of grains of sand Millions of grains of sand are painstakingly laid into are painstakingly laid into place on a flat platform place on a flat platform over a period of days or over a period of days or weeks. When finished, to weeks. When finished, to symbolize the symbolize the impermanence of all that impermanence of all that exists, the colored sands exists, the colored sands are swept up and poured are swept up and poured into a nearby river or into a nearby river or stream where the waters stream where the waters carry the healing carry the healing energies throughout the energies throughout the world. world.

Mandala painting has inspired contemporary artists Mandala painting has inspired contemporary artists to create many of their own radial images.to create many of their own radial images.These are by an artist known as Aya.These are by an artist known as Aya.

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