SYED HAIDER RAZA (B. 1922)

The realization of the innate force of the bindu has been an integral part of Raza's oeuvre since the late 1980's. The bindu, or the black point, can be variously interpreted as zero, drop, seed, or sperm, and is the genesis of creation.

The circle becomes less of a graphical component and more of a central point representing concentrated energy. This circle or bindu manifests itself in various forms throughout Raza's more recent work, bindu is seen as the point or genesis of creation as well as a focal point for meditation. Formally, it becomes the principle around which Raza structures his canvases, this compositional construct has age-old precedents in meditative aids such as yantras and mandalas.