Opening: Shanthi Chandrasekar's "Red Dots"

It all began with a dream. Chandrasekar awoke from a dream filled with joy and possibility, remembering only “a series of red dots arranged purposefully on a white background.” She began drawing the many levels of the dream in order to try to understand and recapture its energy. Quickly the dream absorbed her thoughts; she became lost in the drawing, moving from one room of the dream to the next.

The imagery that appeared reflects her Indian heritage – the kolam, a ritual line drawing symbolizing prosperity and protection, and the bindi, which Chandrasekar uses to create the eponymous red dots and is said to retain energy and concentration, both feature prominently in the drawings. The unraveling threads are symbolic of weaving, the occupation of her ancestors.

Holding degrees in physics and psychology, Chandrasekar is most interested in the blurred line where science and spirituality intersect. The labyrinthine nature of her drawings helped to answer her questions about dreams, which in turn reveal new perceptions of reality. Moving through the maze with Chandrasekar, the viewer may glimpse into the artist’s subconscious, while applying his or her own interpretations to the work.