Sky Path
2013
A collaborative installation with artist Pete Thornley.
THE FIVE GATES
Buddhist philosophy has a term for the openness of sky and space - it is Ku - which is also the term for enlightenment or emptiness. The number 5 has many symbolic meanings in Buddhism. Sky Path has five gates - a pathway of ribbons reflecting the Tibetan colours of yellow, green, red, white and blue (as found on prayer flags). The colours represent five pure lights and the elements.
The 5 Japanese elements consist of earth, water, fire, air (wind) and space (sky). Walking through the gates we take a symbolic journey that passes through Chi (yellow) - the solidity of earth: Sui (green) - the fluidity of water: Ka (red) - fire, the force of energised, moving things in the world: Fu (white) - the movement of air - freedom and expansion and Ku (blue) - the huge expanse of sky and heaven (the void).
Buddhist philosophy has a term for the openness of sky and space - it is Ku - which is also the term for enlightenment or emptiness. The number 5 has many symbolic meanings in Buddhism. Sky Path has five gates - a pathway of ribbons reflecting the Tibetan colours of yellow, green, red, white and blue (as found on prayer flags). The colours represent five pure lights and the elements.
The 5 Japanese elements consist of earth, water, fire, air (wind) and space (sky). Walking through the gates we take a symbolic journey that passes through Chi (yellow) - the solidity of earth: Sui (green) - the fluidity of water: Ka (red) - fire, the force of energised, moving things in the world: Fu (white) - the movement of air - freedom and expansion and Ku (blue) - the huge expanse of sky and heaven (the void).