Lesson 46

Elements

A student was working with the elements; earth, water, air and fire, but said that she no longer was working with fire as one of the lecturers said that fire was not an element.

I said “neither are any of the f…ing others elements!” I reminded her of the Periodic Table which she must have encountered in science at school. When you go to art school you do not have to ignore science and embrace the irrational or fantasy. Science and Art are not opposites, or mutually exclusive.

However, there is nothing wrong with studying Ancient Greek philosophy, alchemy or Hinduism and Buddhism for that matter. All have generated fantastic images and ideas, but you have to know that, that is what you are doing.

There are of course five of these ancient elements. The “fifth element” is aether, also called quintessence. Aether was the pure essence the gods breathed, compared to the ordinary air of mortals. It was also thought to explain the travel of light and gravity.

In the 17th century, Phlogiston, a fire like element in combustible bodies, was considered to be a new element. Phlogiston was thought to be released in fire and respiration. It was a quality of fire and the fire would die as it runs out of phlogiston.

However, I think that the ‘Element of Surprise’ is probably the most important element in art!