THE FIVE-ELEMENT SCULPTURE SERIES

The 5-Element Theory is a useful model for any dynamical system including human health. It embodies both supporting flow and restraint, as shown in the pentagram diagram. The supporting flow is clockwise around the outside of the pentagram. Water nourishes wood by wetting it, wood supports fire by fueling it, fire supports earth by burning material to ash, earth supports metal by forming minerals and metal or minerals support and vitalizes water by dissolving in it. The restraining flow is diagrammed by the five pointed star that connects the five vertices. Water restrains fire by quenching it, fire restrains metal by melting it, metal restrains wood by cutting it, wood restrains earth by covering it with roots and earth restrains water by damming and absorbing it. The supporting flow is incorporated into the sculptures by etching into the gold or silver the supporting symbol for each element. The colors incorporated into the sculptures was taken from classical five-element theory. The optical design of the sculptures utilizes a wave guiding technique. The light incident upon the sides is transmitted inside the sculptures by the optically clear resin layers and is guided and reflected between the metal layers and emerges from the inside along the inner edges.

Water; symbolized by the circle or the number one or unity is a symbol of the primordial waters where all life began. The color associated with water is black. Water nourishes wood (the pentagram) therefore the pentagram pattern is etched into each of the gold layers of the circular sculptures. The etching style is outward curving arcs to symbolize the stars where gold is synthesized.

Wood; symbolized by the pentagram, the symbol of contained man, as in the Leonardo Da Vinci drawing of man with outstretched arms and legs. From unity two and three are simultaneously created, hence the pentagram. This figure was the favorite of Pythagoras because of it's relationship to phi, the golden ratio. The color associated with wood is blue-green which when color mixed with the yellow gold gives a spring green. Wood supports fire (the triangle) therefore the triangular pattern is etched into the pentagram sculptures. The etching style is wavey lines to symbolize the dynamical pattern of fire and heat.

Fire; symbolized by the triangle, the number three, the first possible geometric figure, the transformational power of the trinity. The color associated with fire is red. Fire supports earth (the square) therefore a pattern of squares is etched into the gold layers of the triangular sculptures. The etching style is an extended matrix of squares to symbolize the plant roots that pervade the earth.

Earth; symbolized by the square, the number four, two dualities balanced, symbol of stability. The color associated with earth is yellow, the color of the 23 karat gold leaf. Earth supports metal (the hexagram) therefore a pattern of hexagrams is etched into the gold layers of the square sculptures. The etching style is straight lines to symbolized the ordered crystalline patterns of metals.

Metal; symbolized by the hexagram, the number 6, three dualities or dual trinities, as in the star of david. The hexagram is exactly formed by marking off the radius along the circumference of the circle. The color of metal is white hence the use of pure silver leaf in the metal element sculpture. Since metal supports water (the circle) a pattern of circles is etched into the hexagram sculptures. The etching style is the round flowing water vortexes to symbolize the return to the primordial waters to start another cycle.