The 5th Element or Pseudo Esoteric Cosmology
Since the beginning of times people were questioning the origin and nature of the universe. In order to simplify the complexity of the subject, ancient philosophers divided everything in five leading groups or world elements. Ancient Greeks concept refers classically to five fundamentals such as earth, water, air, fire, and aether or void which everything that above the terrestrial earth. This last, extra-terrestrial element is particularly interesting. Generally, everything that relates to the cosmos such as its origin, dynamics, and future is scientifically studied by cosmology. Cosmology defined as a set of scientific rules such as physical laws that manage cosmic realities of the universe.
However, the western society has developed an additional pseudo-scientific fled - esotericism. Esotericism claims possessing a higher knowledge of the cosmos then simple physic laws. Esotericism states having a superior understanding of everything that relates to a human being. It is a sort of trans-disciplinary study or interpretation of the earth science, history, philosophy, religion, etc. Esotericism is supposed to be an answer to all questions the humankind might have. In a way it is the fifth element that holds everything together. The problem with the esotericism is that it is not recognised by the scientific academia or recognised but rather as a pseudo-science which is not worthy of academic examination. Here is the common ground for the classic Greek mythology that describes the heavenly nature of the fifth element as a pure essence that the gods breathed and an esoteric sense of the superior nature of things that governs our lives.
Interestingly enough, the country of Japan has a similar historically scientific analogy to five elements, but the fifth one is different. Perhaps, due to lack of religion influences they considered the fifth element to be a creative energy. It is the pure energy that gives us ability to think and to design and to converse. It is the power that drives our spontaneity, imagination, and inventiveness. Personally, I would prefer this interpretation to any others. In my view our ingenuity is the one that holds together the rest of four elements. Without a human being nothing makes much sense or purpose. There is no purpose to air since there is no one to breathe it; no purpose to stone since there is no anyone to build from it; fire to heat; water to cultivate.
That is perhaps why I depicted this massive air balloon - castle apparatus that comprises all five elements: stone, water, air, and fire. It is apparatus that flows to the unknown driven by the fifth element – a human spirit.
(Title Rus) Пятый Элемент или Псевдо Эзотерическая Космология
Software used: Adobe Photoshop®, Adobe Illustrator®, 3ds Max®, Photo Stock
George Grie, December 2016
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The 5th Element or Pseudo Esoteric Cosmology, gothic surrealism