About
A conversation with Christian de Vietri and Lawrence Rinder
‘May you invite this wisdom to reside within you and instantly be Goddess-graced with its vision of essence.’
— Abhinavagupta, Tantrāloka 37.84B (trans. de Vietri)
In this public conversation, artist and author Christian de Vietri joins curator and writer Lawrence Rinder to explore the artistic and philosophical dimensions of de Vietri’s recent publication, Trika Maṇḍala Prakāśa: Illuminating the Mandalas of Abhinavagupta’s Tantrāloka (The Magnetic Citadel Press, 2024).
A first of its kind, de Vietri’s book gives visual form to the complete sequence of maṇḍalas described in Abhinavagupta’s tenth-century masterpiece, the Tantrāloka—a cornerstone of the non-dual Śaiva tradition of Kashmir. Through a synthesis of scholarship, artistry, and contemplative insight, his work rekindles a luminous body of sacred geometry long unseen, revealing its profound resonance for the present.
The discussion will consider the role of tradition in guiding this extraordinary endeavour; de Vietri’s creative process of intuitively and systematically reconstructing these lost forms; the contemporary significance of such imagery; and the ways in which the book itself may be regarded as a work of art—an act of both revelation and creation.
Key Information
Who is this lecture for?
All are welcome to attend. You must be aged 18 or over to participate in our programmes.
Online Learning
How do I attend the online lecture?
This talk will take place on Zoom, an online meeting platform. A link for joining the Zoom meeting will be sent before the start date. A recording will be distributed shortly afterwards.
What days/times do I attend?
Wednesday 25 February 2026, 10:00 – 11:30 GMT
What if I have questions during the talk?
Participants can submit their questions through the chat. The moderator will then pass these questions on to the speakers.
I live in a different time zone, can I still attend?
We encourage you to attend the course in real time; however, if you are unable to attend live due to the difference in time you can catch up via the recording.
Recordings cannot be purchased separately if the lecture is fully booked or if the lecture has already started.
Tips:
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FAQs
Do you offer concessions?
Yes, we offer concessions for Seniors/60+, full-time students and people who are unemployed/in receipt of benefits.
Concessions cannot be applied in retrospect. To receive a concession, please apply via our online form. We will then send you a discount code to use when booking your space.
Terms & Conditions
The School reserves the right to discontinue or suspend a Lecture up to fourteen (14) calendar days before the advertised start date. This lecture requires a minimum number of enrolments to run.
What if I need to cancel or change my booking?
No refunds or cancellations, unless cancelled by the School.
Our normal terms and conditions apply.
Biographies
Christian de Vietri is an artist whose work bridges sculpture, sacred art, and spirituality. Internationally recognised for both his monumental public commissions and his engagement with traditional Indian knowledge systems, he has explored how art can serve as a vehicle for awakening and transmission. Drawing from the Trika Śaivism of Kashmir and the canons of Śilpa Śāstra, de Vietri’s practice brings ancient principles of form and consciousness into living expression today. Christian is currently a doctoral researcher at the King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts.
Lawrence Rinder is Director Emeritus of the UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive. Previously, he served as the Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Curator of Contemporary Art at the Whitney Museum of American Art and Dean of the College at the California College of the Arts. He wrote the introduction to Franck Andre Jamme’s catalogue of drawings, Tantra Song: Tantric Painting from Rajasthan and has organised exhibitions of artists including Baua Devi, Agnes Martin, John Cage, and Cecilia Vicuña.
