

Artspace, Mackay 2005. Reconfigured in 2006 at Cairns Regional Gallery
Paper clay, fibreglass, unfired clay and found objects
The idea for Earthpods comes from an understanding of the earth/ Gaia and its inhabitants as being a whole living system where every organism affects the whole as a self-regulating entity. This idea while promoted more recently in Gaia Theory, through the study of the atmosphere by Dr James Lovelock, was the basis of the ancient Taoist understanding of man and nature.
As one of the oldest living texts the I Ching outlines how we are connected to nature and the elements and shows how they offer us an understanding of who we are.
Through symbols and codes the I Ching reveals the mystery and secret nature of the universe and its workings along with our place within it.
The text consists of 64 hexagrams. The basic hexagrams are the eight elements of wind, water, fire, earth, thunder, lake, mountain and heaven. These are used as symbols to teach particular aspects of our essential nature. Incidentally foretelling the discovery of the 64 essential DNA codons, which form our biological make-up, creating individuality.
In the process of creating Earthpods, I contemplated each of the hexagrams and created personal interpretations of the original text to arrive at a word or meaning, which is inscribed on each sphere. The process was meant to offer a contemplative tool for understanding our mysterious relationship with mother earth.