There’s another cool way to reach a meditative state—the innovative and unconventional Zentangle. While doodling and creating marvellous repetitive patterns on paper, you can calm your mind and feel relaxed.
Japanese-born sculptor Mari Dhanukonda, who has made Bengaluru her home since 2005, stumbled upon this unique from of mediation by accident. “I am greatly interested in Indian folk and tribal art.
I started learning Warli, Madhubani and Gondo art. Indian tribal designs are composed of several simple elements and significant patterns. One day when I started drawing these patterns, I forgot all negative thoughts and found myself feeling positive. I found the patterns fascinating, and gradually my interest moved from tribal art to simple patterns,” she says.
It was in 2012 that Mari found information on Zentangle while researching patterns. The next year she was off to the US to study to become a certified Zentangle teacher.
Today, she is a popular educationist in Bengaluru.
Created in 2005, the concept was given a form and systematised structure when calligrapher Maria Thomas felt focused, calm and happy while creating background patterns. She shared this experience with her partner, Rick Robert, a former Buddhist monk who believed this state to be a meditative one. Together they devised a method wherein easy to learn and ‘doodle’ beautiful images and structured patterns on paper would bring about inner peace and focus. Zentangle is a registered trademark.
“I have got a good response in Bengaluru, which is a dynamic, cosmopolitan city. I enjoy teaching this method. All you need is groups of six to 15 people. Usually they comprise people who know each other, so the atmosphere is comfortable and friendly. It’s a fun social activity where you learn, draw, talk and eat together later. Some groups continue to meet at regular intervals and create magical patterns even for two consecutive years,” says Mari.
While you can learn the basics yourself and get a whole lot of information on the Internet, people prefer to learn in groups. Mari assists them once or twice a month. “I recommend you make a group and learn. There is no need to compare each other’s work. Each piece is going to be unique. Even if we draw same patterns, the end result is always different,” she explains.
Her style comprises using human figures, Indian folk and art and typical Zentangle motifs, hence she calls it Zentangle Inspired Art (ZIA).Zentangle has been used successfully in schools, hospitals, assisted living facilities and mental health institutions the world over.
Marketing consultant Divya Chinnapa Rao, Mari’s student, has done four sessions and finds that it removes stress completely and makes you live in the moment. “It’s meditative and is an expression of creativity. Mari provides the paper and pens; you can create patterns either on white or black sheets. I felt sense of fulfilment after being so creative,” she says.
Zentangle has been used to embellish greeting cards, gift wrapping paper, and more. When it comes to human creativity, the sky is the limit.
Peace By Piece
Zentangle is an art which helps find inner harmony by doodling and creating repetitive patterns on paper
Japanese-born sculptor Mari Dhanukonda, who lives in Bengaluru since 2005, stumbled upon this unique mediation form by accident
Created in 2005, the concept was given a form and systematised structure when calligrapher Maria Thomas felt focused, calm and happy while creating background patterns
Zentangle has been used
successfully in schools, hospitals, assisted living facilities and
mental health institutions the
world over
It is used to embellsih greeting cards, gift wrapping paper, and more