The Mandala: A Journey Back to Self

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In Sanskrit mandala means 'circle'. Traditional mandalas consist of various geometric designs and patterns symbolising the universe, totality and wholeness. They sometimes incorporated images of deities and were used chiefly in Hinduism and Buddhism as an aid to meditation.

In Jungian psychology the mandala is a symbol of self expression and a symbol of the effort to reunify the self. The beauty of drawing mandalas from a Jungian perspective is that there are no limits to expression or the creative process. This is the process that fires my passion the most, and the basis upon which many of my personal works are created.

Meditation utilising mandalas helps to clear the mind and bring one back to oneself and centre.

Mandalas helped me find my way back to art after ignoring the calling for way too long. For that I will be forever grateful. ​

Artist Biography


KYLIE JOY MORRISON - ART BIOGRAPHY

1987             Campbelltown City Councils Youth Oriented Graphic Artists Project at Campbelltown Community Centre
1987-1989     Commissioned for series of illustrations for pamphlets by Campbelltown Community Centre, Camden Health Centre
1990             Commissioned for illustrations by NSW Dept of School Education
1990-1993     Completed Bachelor of Art Education, UNSW
1994             Awarded NSW Teachers Certificate
1994-2002     Visual Arts & Casual Teacher at Bathurst High School, Ambarvale High School, and Smith's Hill High School
2001-2002     Facilitator of School Holiday workshops for Wollongong City Gallery
2008-2009     Private weekly art workshops at Astarte Mind & Body Studio, Oak Flats
2016-2020     Monthly art workshops at Astarte Mind & Body Studio, Albion Park Rail
2017             Established The Steampunk Vagabonds theatrical dance and entertainment troupe
2020             Art Workshop Facilitator for Shellharbour City Councils Enliven Shellharbour project
2020             Kraken sculptural dance prop featured on Littmus Steampunk Bands 'Welcome' Album Cover
2021             Independent Art and Creative workshop facilitator for Shellharbour City Council

The Journey


I began my art career in my teens as an illustrator for community services and local businesses, before completing a Bachelor of Art Education at UNSW in 1993. I spent the next 8 years working as a casual teacher in Visual Arts, as well as across multiple other departments, in High Schools across NSW.

In 2002, with no permanent teaching positions available, I left the education system to pursue a new career in the health and fitness industry, while re-channelling most of my creative energies into my dance practice and creative performance performance projects.

In 2008 I founded my own home studio business, Astarte Mind & Body, where I taught weekly belly dance, Pilates, and Art classes. Over the next 13 years I focused my energies on growing my business into a holistic focused centre, working with other local mind body focused businesses to provide a community hub for physical, creative and mental health and wellbeing.

During this time I also established a theatrical performance troupe, the Steampunk Vagabonds. With a focus on creative vintage styling, elaborate costuming and props, and a combination of dance and pantomime, we gained a reputation within the local steampunk, cosplay and festival circuits for our colourful, fun, and entertaining sets.

In 2020, a year of turmoil and introspection for many, I made a conscious decision to revisit my first love, and focus more on my professional artistic development. I was offered the opportunity to facilitate a series of art workshops for Shellharbour City Council's Enliven program and  have continued my relationship with Shellharbour City Council's Arts program since, involving myself in community art projects, creating sculptural installations, and facilitating creative art workshops. ​

I made the heartbreaking decision to close down my physical studio in 2021, and am currently running Astarte Mind & Body and Astarte Studio Belly Dance & Fusion as online entities, while continuing to develop my artistic and creative skills in my personal time.
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Commissioned Works

1997   Youth Drug and Alcohol Services logo
1998   Suicide Prevention Task Force mascot logo and pamphlet illustration
1990   Camden Community Health Centre pamphlet logo
1991   Illustrations for Sydney based graphic arts company
1991   Illustrations and handwritten text for NSW schools Asthma Awareness Kit
1993   Illustrations for My Fair Lady stage production promotional kit, St Patricks College, Campbelltown
1996   Illustrations for cookbook "Sweet Things from Appin"
2002   Illustrations for Gypsy Flames School of Belly Dance promotional posters and programs
2010   Ongoing costume and prop production for Astarte Studio dance events
2020   Kraken sculptural stage prop used as the cover photo for Littmus Steampunk Band CD   
2021   Scarecrow (installation) for Shellharbour City Councils Messy Hands Create & Play event
2021   Magical Beanstalk (installation) for Shellharbour City Council Library

Art Exhibitions

1993   COFA NSW Student Exhibition, COFA Sydney
1998   NOMAD: Images of the Sahara, Project Gallery, Wollongong
2000   Art and Belly Dance Exhibition, Faces on Crown, Wollongong
2015   Suerenda & Zaghareet: An Artistic Journey into the World of Dance Orientale, Squid Studio, Nowra
2022   State of Emergence Exhibition, The Imaginarium, Shellharbour