A commentary on some
of my work with special reference to a sculptural group in 2009.
Myth, fairy-tale and
legend form the background of a series of
works which also examines the body language of ritual.
“The Guardians” is a group of sculptural figures arranged in
a circle. Currently only in model or maquette form but ideally should be
life-size or even larger, possibly one and a half times this. I envisage the
group placed in a relatively remote but
not inaccessible place such as a small clearing in a forest and the piece
approached via a path taking an indirect route to it. See also
this link.
The outer circle are a group of people with a shared
understanding, or knowledge. The six who make up the majority of the group are
presided over by a seventh whose hood signifies her as some form of priestess;
she has the role of leader, messenger, servant and trustee of the group as need
arises. She is also the collective voice or mouthpiece. Their purpose is to be
a collective unity to protect a sacred truth. Hence the title, for guardians
they indeed are. The kneeling figure is the stranger
at the gate. The gate being the gap in the foreground of the circle as
viewed here.
The Stranger at the Gate
One who approaches the circle. In a life-sized sculpture
this could well be the one who visits the sculpture. Who is this stranger who
approaches the circle? An uninvited stranger could be on the one hand, a
chosen one for some ritual whether as prospective sacrificial victim or slave
of the group while on the other hand may be a supplicant requesting help or
again, may wish to become a part of the group.
The invited stranger adopts the same body language
but in this case the group have need of the stranger’s services. An invited
stranger may well serve the group but not necessarily become a member.
The Numbers of the Group
Seven is a magic number as is five, three and nine. An
odd-numbered group has an even number of members plus one. The balance and its
fulcrum. Thus an addition would create an imbalance as there would be no
fulcrum figure. Three, five, seven; but what of the nine?
Nine has the potential for imbalance, - it is three times
three, or thee groups of which one is the fulcrum which would be a troika. Who
leads the troika? Nine is the larger number and should be the stronger with a
cube root of three. So what about three? Three has one fatal flaw. The saying
“Two’s company and three’s a crowd carries some merit. Two strong figures and
one weak. Two for a one-to-one unity, the third is rejected or at best,
sidelined.
Tolkien took this further in The Lord of the Rings:-
“Three
rings for the elven-kings under the sky,
Three rings for the dwarf-lords in their
halls of stone,
Three rings for all mortals doomèd to die
And one ring to find them and keep them as one.”
A tenth item to control the flawed thrice three. Thus we
have an even number, ten, which is fatally flawed for should the stranger be
malevolent, then control of the One will control the potentially unstable nine;
and herein lies the irony. Darkness rising. The foundation of all
good-versus-evil stories.
A small digression from this little numbers game:-
The forces of evil are numerically strong while the forces
of good are numerically weak. The evil, or “dark” side soon gain the advantage
but for one fatal flaw. If that tenth particle is removed i.e.
the dark side decimated, then the forces of good will prevail.
Now to look at the other numbers of five and seven.
A group of seven consists of two trios and a leader. Two’s
company, three’s a crowd? Set them in a circle. Three couplets where each
member compliments its opposite. Each of the opposites find stability in the
fulcrum. Look for example at the Seven Sisters or the Corona Borealis. Such energy passes through the fulcrum to focus on
the centre. Stone circles appear to work on this principle. This group of seven
has not only a numerical stability but a sense of balance that appeals to the
aesthetic felt at an instinctive level. However, such a septimal arrangement
has a more inviting aesthetic where a gateway exists opposite the fulcrum where
a visitor can either remain or go on to the centre.
Five is not so inviting. The five points of the pentacle
have no central focal point though entry may be less daunting than its
sevenfold equivalent. It begs the question, - is the energy of a pentimal
formation defensive/protective? That is, is its purpose to protect those within
and focus its energies on keeping malicious forces at bay while conversely, is
the focus of a septimal formation in the centre energising those within?
The Human Factor
So far the numerology and geometry has been discussed to set
the stage for a mythical drama. It takes the human aspect to shape events.
There are those who wish to be left in peace to get on with their lives, those
who will defend that right and act for the good of all and there are those who
wish to have it all to themselves and control everything and everyone. Usually
it is the one who seeks total control has turned away from his fellow beings
and alienated him/herself. As such a one becomes more powerful, that very power
has to be used to bend other’s will to this end. A titanic struggle of opposing
forces ensues and (usually) it takes an innocent or naïf to be the one to tip
the scales so that evil is vanquished and good prevails.
The Guardians? They stand still, and watch, and while
Middle-Earth remains in harmony with itself there is no need for action.
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