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larrysheaI chatted recently with MIU Artist in Residence Lawrence Sheaff. His one-man show, Absolute Image: the Structure of Consciousness in Visual Form, opens October 16th at ART52 Gallery in Fairfield. The exhibition explores the relationship of art, consciousness and Vedic Science.

Lawrence is a 2010 MIU graduate with a MA in Vedic Science. I ask him if he started this Absolute Image series while working towards his degree at MIU.

Actually, it was much earlier,” he says. “After working with Maharishi (the founder of MIU) as a visual artist for eighteen years, I returned to my own work as a painter in 1990. I started painting again with just a simple desire to the combine two things I loved the most, Vedic Science and painting. I began the Absolute Image series in 1995.”

Pervader of the Lotus of the Heart

The beautifully complex geometric patterns of these paintings remind me of Mandalas or Yantras. I ask Lawrence about this similarity, and he explains that that “there is a natural similarity between [these] paintings and mandalas, because they both utilize fundamental geometric forms. Mandalas have a distinct function in their tradition,” he says, “My paintings function is to reveal the foundation of our visual world.”

Lawrence describes how these images come into to his awareness, “whole and complete. I see the image and then my job is to innocently paint what I see. I don’t edit,” he says, “Lawrence Sheaf stays out of it.” He confesses that at first, he didn’t know what the images were, “just that I had to paint them.”

“I start each Absolute Image with the finished product in mind,” he says, “It’s opposite to how many artists work. The painting emerges from my initial experience as an observer of the complete image in my awareness.” Lawrence fills sketchbooks with visual and verbal notations he makes as soon as an image appears in his mind. These notations serve to re-enliven the original image in his awareness as he paints.

Each painting in the Absolute Image series is associated with a particular Sutra (verse) of the Visnu Sahasranama (Thousand Names of Lord Vishnu composed by the Vedic sage Veda Vyasa.) I ask Lawrence how this came about.

A friend had a copy of the Vishnu Sahasranaama,” he explains, “One day, I picked it up and started turning pages. I realized these names of Vishnu were the names of my paintings. So, once the painting and I come to agreement that it is finished,” he continues, I sit down with the Vishnu Sahasranaama and turn pages until a sutra resonates with the image and I have the name for that painting.”

As head designer for the TM Movement, Lawrence worked closely with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, MIU’s founder, “concerning all things visual.” I ask him about that experience.

“Giving visual expression to the principles of Vedic Science drew me deeply into knowledge of consciousness and creativity. Whatever I gained from those continuous interactions with Maharishi and Vedic Science, I’d like to think I’m giving something of that back through my Absolute Image series of paintings.” Find out more about Lawrence and his work at ABSOLUTEIMAGE.NET.

OPENING RECEPTION: October 16, 7:00 pm.
Absolute Image
exhibition runs through November 28.
Gallery walk through and lecture with Lawrence Sheaff on October 23, 7:00pm.
Gallery Hours: 1–4 Tues–Sat.
For information call: (641) 290-3634.

Mo Ellis is inspired by art, issues, and progressive ideas. Mo Ellis’ online and print contributions as a writer, editor, website & mobile app project manager, PR and online media director 
have appeared at: "O" magazine, The Huffington Post, The New York Times, The Des Moines Register, Surface Design Journal, The Iowa Source, KRUU-FM, Iowa Public Radio, Dr. Mercola and Dr. Oz.