How to make art a cure for every season.
Have you ever walked into a room and been hit with a wave of energy, good or bad? Practiced for over 5000 years, Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice that is attuned to this phenomenon, putting forward a system of laws that govern spatial arrangement. If abided by, Feng Shui can augment the flow of energy to prosperous effect; ignored and bad Feng Shui threatens to undermine more than just your interior aesthetic.
Arch Cuthbertson 'Anakie Rocks No 23'
An expression of energy, art can be curated through the principles of Feng Shui, offering cures for the seasons of life. The bagua, or map of Feng Shui, speaks of five different elements: wood; fire; water; metal; and earth. Wood is evoked by paintings of trees or driftwood and the use of green and browns, working to stimulate prosperity and renewal.
Representations of fire in art and the use of reds, purples and oranges, speaks to joy, vibrance, passion and warmth, while water – or blues – reflect tranquility and peace. Metal, represented by images of coins and silver, will bring forth productivity, rational thought and intellectualism, while natural landscapes or earth tones provide stability, grounding and nurturing.
Philippe Le Miere 'The good life'
Jeffrey Makin 'Australia Felix'
The energies evoked by each of these elements are best fit for different circumstances. Water ought not go in the bedroom lest it dampen your passion, while metal will sparkle in a home office. Feng Shui warns against blunt and sharp lines, favouring instead curvatures, circles and softness. If a mood is dominating, consider inserting its diametric opposite – water cools fire, fire weakens metal, metal weakens wood, wood weakens earth and earth weakens water. And for wealth? Display flowers, sailing ships, and auspicious animals to invite fortune into your space.
