Blue Mandala - Victor Pasmore

A screenprint by Victor Pasmore, featuring organic blue forms and a central yellow core, demonstrating his mastery of geometric abstraction.

Victor Pasmore, a central figure in the development of British abstract art, moved away from his early representational work to explore the properties of pure form and colour. Blue Mandala is a representative example of his later period, where he utilised organic shapes and precise geometric elements to create a sense of equilibrium. The composition features two large, soft-edged blue forms that mirror one another, creating a central void. Within this space, a warm yellow core provides a contrast to the cool tones of the surrounding blue. A delicate, calligraphic black line, punctuated by two small circles, cuts through the centre, adding a sense of movement and tension to the otherwise static arrangement.

Pasmore was deeply interested in the relationship between the viewer and the space occupied by the artwork. His work often sought to remove the barrier between the object and the environment, encouraging a direct sensory experience. In this print, the simplicity of the shapes and the clarity of the colour fields allow the viewer to focus on the interaction of the elements themselves. The screenprint medium allows for a flat, even application of colour, which suits Pasmore's interest in clarity and precision. By stripping away narrative or representational content, Pasmore invites an engagement with the fundamental principles of visual perception. This piece reflects his ongoing investigation into the balance of positive and negative space, a theme that occupied much of his career after his transition to abstraction in the late 1940s. The work remains a clear example of his ability to synthesise complex spatial ideas into a singular, coherent visual statement.