Center and Center II

Center and Center II are references to the Chinese and Indian tradition of using circles as metaphors for place. The Chinese and Indian people translated space and time into two-dimensions, primarily the circle or the square, and put themselves at the center. This egocentric view of the universe could then simply be translated into four directions, north south east and west. Thus, simple geometric shapes like the circle became not only basic building blocks of Indian and Chinese art, architecture and industry, they became representative of something abstract: the intervention of humans on their environment; they represent humanity at the center of that environment and our dominance over that environment. By ritually or ceremonially involving themselves in these spaces they represent their view of themselves in the center of the universe. These spaces are a cordoning off, a partition, a barrier that both separates themselves from the universe and defines mans place in that universe.

Center and Center II refer to two basic notions behind the Indian concept of architectural space: “The void, such as an area enclosed by a system of balustrades or wall… indicates the intense concentration of emotion for worship, in contrast to the uncommitted space outside… the solid, on the other hand, serves as a focus of worship…” The items together represent the emotional and physical act of worship.

Center Detail	Center Detail	Center II	Center
Center II Detail	Center II Reverse