2024
An adaptation mandala-making by merging traditional motifs with an old printing technologies using a waffle press.
Mandala patterns are native to Nepal Culture and especially to my culture (Newari Culture). I have grown up making these mandala with materials like rice grains and flower petals, a meaningful practice passed down through generations.
Printing press was one of the most revolutionary technologies in human history, from woodblock printing to risograph techniques. I wanted to extend its meaning beyond paper, exploring heat, pressure, and materiality as new ways of imprinting. Inspired by a waffle maker and a panini press, something you would innately use to press down.
How could I create prints through pressure and heat, much like traditional methods to color print?
I explores with Silicone molds & rubber carving for flexible, reusable surfaces. I also researched into heat & pressure-based printing using foam and rubber,
I was inspired to layer colors inspired by Risograph printing.
I designed negative CAD impressions of Nepali Mandalas, experimenting with silicone molds and carving rubber to create reusable printing surfaces. I ended up using a foam press.
The result is an interactive press, where users can transfer cultural patterns onto various materials, bridging Newari artistry with contemporary design tools.
This project was about taking something familiar and reinterpreting its function in a way that has an element of surprise. The Mandala Color Press is more than just an experiment in printing; it’s an invitation to play, print, and connect with tradition through making.
