MANDALA - CIRCA SURVIVE
Introduction:
As an artist, I’ve always been fascinated by the way music and art intersect. The deep, reflective lyrics of Circa Survive’s Mandala offer a profound exploration of creation, origin, and influence. For this project, I’ve created a visual piece inspired by the song, aiming to capture its exploration of how creation is never fully our own—it’s shaped by those who came before us.
The Central Symbol:
Multiple Hands Playing the Keyboard At the heart of my illustration, you’ll find a grouping of multiple hands playing a musical keyboard. These hands are not one singular source of creation, but rather represent the idea that no creation exists in isolation. Each hand symbolizes a different influence—a different creator—that contributes to the final act of creation. This ties directly into the lyric “afterbirth on the keypad overwhelm,” which evokes the concept of creation as a culmination of many different influences and inspirations.
Each new piece of art or music we create is not truly “our own,” but rather the weaving together of the ideas and contributions of many. Whether we realize it or not, we are all part of a larger web of creation that reaches far beyond ourselves.
The Mandala and the City Skyline:
Layers of Creation Radiating outward from the hands, the mandala expands into a city skyline, symbolizing the layers of human creation and civilization. Above the city, I’ve included cartoon houses and cars that repeat around the circumference, representing how creation exists not just in the grand, monumental forms like cities, but in the small, whimsical details as well.
The lyric “There are cities buried underneath our cities” speaks to how every new creation is built upon the foundations of what came before it. Just as cities are constructed over the remains of older ones, new ideas and works of art are shaped by those that came before. This layering of influence and inspiration is present in every act of creation, from the smallest gesture to the most grandiose expression.
These elements are a nod to the song’s lyrical question, “Did he who make the lamb make thee?” which reflects the eternal question of origins and influences in creation. How are we shaped by those who came before us? And to what extent is the “creator” truly the sole author of their work?
Symbolism and Meaning
Mandala delves into deep questions about identity, creation, and interconnectedness. My goal in this illustration was to capture that essence visually. The mandala represents how creation is cyclical and interconnected, with each new creation building on what came before. The act of creation, whether it’s music, art, or any other form, is always influenced by what came before it.
The playful cartoon elements in the piece represent the joy and whimsy that often accompany creation, even as it ties into more serious reflections on identity and origin.
Conclusion:
The Mandala illustration is a visual exploration of how creation is not an isolated event but rather a part of a larger network of influences. The piece reflects my own interpretation of the song's exploration of who creates what and the origins of artistic and musical inspiration. I invite you to reflect on your own experience with creation—what influences shape your work? How do you see your place in the larger web of creation?