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Dvandvani is an exploration of unseen forces—those subtle, often intangible energies that shape our physical surroundings and emotional landscapes. These elemental tensions mirror my experience while creating the piece, a process or visceral tug and toggle between control, resistance, and surrender.

Instead of traditional tools, I turned to magnets and iron filings, letting invisible fields guide the formation of intricate patterns across a smooth surface. Each movement captured a delicate dance between attraction and repulsion, between intention and unpredictability. A digital camera became a companion in this exploration, layering another dimension: that of framing, and interpreting ephemeral interactions through the lens.

Though I typically work in vibrant color, this project unfolded in black and white—an unusual departure that ultimately became essential. Stripped of hue, except for the red crystals, the work reveals a stark elegance that speaks more directly to the conceptual core. In the absence of color, the interplay of contrast and form became more pronounced, echoing the thematic dualities at the heart of Dvandvani.

The piece emerged during a time of pronounced division, both within the United States and around the world. Against this backdrop of social and political polarization, I felt compelled to investigate how beauty and volatility can coexist—how opposing forces, rather than canceling each other out, might generate something entirely new.

Dvandvani is not just a meditation on duality; it is an invitation to engage with uncertainty. Through the medium of magnetic force and visual abstraction, it gestures toward the creative possibilities that arise when we release control and allow ourselves to discover meaning through process.

Joan K. Sharma (b. 1963), Fresno County, Dvandvani, 2024, 24 x 18 x 1.75 in., iron filings & magnets used as brushes, digital camera, red crystals, on canvas