'Landscape1_Mandala', 1984.
In the transparent dome of 'Landscape1: Mandala' a (secret) water cycle activated the internal elements via a double pulley system. This became apparent every 20 minutes when the ‘imperceptibly’ descending central water container emptied its contents into the pool below.
The elliptical dome was hand-stitched cotton gauze onto a sisal 'architecture', 12mx9mx4m, 42 segments. 21 patterns, seven levels, suspended in tension. The internal elements constituted a 6 segmented triple mandala delineated by a boundary of sticks thrust into the sand.
Central feature: water;
Inner circle: fire, earth, wood ;
Middle circle: stretched skin (a single chamois per structure), timber pole, woven sac, human hair. A dynamic conceptual (procreative) symbology where the vertical timber pole is activated by the water cycle, a receptive horizontal component of stretched chamois with a small central void is visually connected to a woven sac filled with the artist's hair.
Outer circle: suspended stones.
Water cycle: The major part of the water cycle was virtually imperceptible, water dripped into the central woven container. As its weight increased the container dropped causing the stones to rise and the poles to fall. Just prior to penetration of the stretched skin of the receptive element, the water was released into the pool. A quick return to its initiatory position alerted the viewer to the nature of the concealed dynamics of the work.
'Performance in the Landscape: Mandala', Autumn Equinox, 1984.
The 6 segmented mandala was re-produced in the landscape by thrusting sticks into the sand. A meditation performed, a central fire was lit, the incoming tide extinguishing the fire and enveloping the participants.
