Zentangle is an art from akin to doodling that is based on a human behaviour in which one refrains from planning and allows lines and shapes to unintentionally emerge. Apart from being a relaxation technique, Zentangle art is slowly bridging the gap between art and psychology for people.
Psychologists and art lovers Gargee Kanhere, M. Anuvidya and Priyanka M.B came up with 'Zenith', a style which emerged from the patterns that emerged from the works they did in their free time. “We used to have a lot of repetitive patterns in our artwork even before we came to know that this art form had a name. However, being psychologists, we were also interested in exploring the benefits of art in mental health and we were doing our share of research on the same. That's how we came across Zentangle and began to utilise it more and decided to help people know about the emotional and psychological aspects of it.”
Several artists perform this art just for meditative purposes. Bengaluru-based Rasha Khan whose primary profession is content writing, showcases her Zentangle art in a Facebook page named 'Rasha: Artist’. She believes she can draw if she is inspired. “This art is a form of meditation. It is a balance between mind and body. I feel relaxed after sketching or performing the art of Zen.”
Umesh Prasad, who runs 'Different Strokes Creative Learning & Activity Centre' believes the art has potential in many sectors. “Zentangling is constantly evolving as an art form with newer practitioners coming out with continuously unique ways of expressing themselves with tangles. Zentangles have immense applications in art and design. People have used Zentangles in so many areas - from jewellery design to T-shirts to fancy gift products to interior and wall art and many more. I am constantly applying the techniques of Zentangling in newer media apart from pen and paper.”
Umesh also spoke about how Zen art can add a new realm to interior designing. “Experiments are on to find other mediums and techniques for walls murals incorporating Zentangles for interior designers, which can be cost-effectively executed.”
Gargee recommends the Art of Zen for creativity and recovery from traumatic experiences. “It is used as art based psychotherapy as it helps in expressing a lot of issues and conflicts that an individual might be going through but is not able to say through words. It is also being used in settings that cater to individuals who have been through traumatic experiences, and is useful in managing addiction of various substances.”
