The Elemental Earth

The Four Elements are not only used to describe the fundamental building blocks of the physical universe and everything in it, but in many traditions are also used to understand experiences as intangible as psychology and spirituality. The prevalent use of metaphor to paint each element with imagery associated with its characteristic permits complex and interconnected systems to be understood in visceral and intuitive terms, just as poetry often cuts to the heart of a subject much more directly than the most precise academic essay. In this way, the Four Elements model is frequently used to represent cyclical processes – from diurnal and seasonal cycles, to cycles of life or mood – by relating each element to qualities such as season, time of day, period of life or cardinal direction.

The following series explore the Four Elements paradigm by means of four distinct case studies. The element of water is represented in its frozen state in a study of the Arctic sea ice between Northern Greenland and Baffin Island; Fire is revealed in the  infinite and ephemeral forms of flame; Earth is expressed by the mighty deciduous forests of the Pacific Northwest; while Air is highlighted by the experience of sky and cloud. Each series can be regarded in its literal form, or by seeing the abstract and ethereal qualities of the images in the metaphorical language of the Four Elements traditions.