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“Soft winds that absorb calm waters”

This phrase is the literal translation of the term “ feng sui ” that has become fashionable, but, besides that, contributes to our western culture with the oriental concept of seeking something that is beyond our ordinary existence.

Before initiating any reflection on decoration it is necessary to have in mind two variables without any decoration can make sense:

  • People inhabiting the spaces.
  • The environment of wich they are part

There exist landscapes that are in a certain way “tattooed” in people, that only take life in our imaginary, and some of them include us and understand us, and that will only become ours if we learn to respect them.
When we speak about “wind” we are talking about the invisible influence that the environment practises on each of us, whereas “water” alludes to its aptitude to support the life. The Feng Shui is a philosophy that analyzes the dialogue that we establish day after day with the environment in wich we live, since, according to oriental philosophers, it is the reflex of our soul.
Dialogue and relation, connection of things. As all the elements that shape the planet are in relation, in order to live and coexist on it, it is necessary to relate with it and with all other living beings.
The effect that motivates and justifies the architectural fact is the need men to conceave and inhabit comfortable spaces that allow the development of his natural activities.

Analyzing the existing relation between an architectural object and the nature that surrounds it, we can find a first point of discussion: Is architecture an expression men domain overnature, where we apply our conditions according to our convenience?, or, on the contrary, the quality of an architectural object will depend also on the response that offers to the environmental reality of the place where it is located?.
Can People live in a permanent struggle that implies not only transforming but destroying his environment? or could we look for answers inside our imaginary, trying not to exclude but to include and give value to his habitat.

Environment, life, nature and man are the first steps that any architect, landscape painter or interior decorator must contemplate when they are about to start a project.
Soft winds, essence, origin, are not empty terms, on the contrary, they point to not losing the point that only combining nature, investigation and apprehension to this principle we can achieve a lasting and harmonious result, which not only satisfies us now but allows us to build a great future.

In all the cases we have to believe in oneself, I rescue this phrase of the Old Testament because in some way it summarizes that we must search to be able to find a lasting thing, even in the decoration,the matter that we are treating:

“ Go out , and get into the mount in front of God
… Then it blowed a big and powerful wind that was breaking the mounts, and was
breaking the rocks, God was not in the wind.
… After the wind an earthquake: yet God was not in the earthquake.
… After the earthquake a fire: yet God was not in the fire.
… After the fire a soft and delicate breeze caressed his face.
… And there he found it. ”

Without forcing the environment and agreeing with its beauty we can travel the spaces, make them ours and to find in them the vital breath that feeds them and us.

From Maria Zuretti
National teacher of Fine arts - Ceramist
Ambientaciones – Recycling – Landscape painting
Maria.zuretti@datamarkets.com.ar

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