Detail of Kelly Heaton's, "Ramayana," 2012. Conductive ink, electronics and gauche on paper. 15" x 15.5" unframed
In Fall 2012, while The Parallel Series was on exhibit in New York, I finished reading the great Hindu epic, "Ramayana." I highly recommend the translation by Ramesh Menon. Menon's two-volume version of the Mahabharata is also excellent.
Conductive ink was used to draw this illustration of Rama in meditation; and also defines resistors for the circuit which illuminates his chakras. Nine volts of electricity flows throughout his figure: 6 volts from the alkaline battery at his base, plus 3 volts from the coin cell at his crown.
The width and length of a line drawn with conductive ink determines resistance: wider and shorter lines give less resistance than do longer and skinnier. Electronic parts, such as transistors and LEDs, are connected to these "ink resistors" with a pressure contact (made possible with tiny bolts).
This work is available for sale through Ronald Feldman Fine Arts in New York, NY