The Six-Elements Parthenon
Witnessing the rapid urbanization and the convenience of a technologically supported lifestyle, our generation can easily forget our connection to Mother Earth and its finite resources. The term “sustainability” is often used so frequently that it becomes a symbolic buzzword, losing its true meaning.
I aim to create this public artwork as a reminder of our foundations and the contradiction of building and destroying. I have chosen six elements fundamental to modern life: minerals (1,000-6,000m deep, crucial for technology), coal (300m deep, the largest energy source), soil (our foundation), water, vegetation, and sunlight. These essential natural resources are physically represented by six columns standing on ruined concrete, supporting a mirror ceiling.
When you stand on the platform and look up, you see yourself alongside others. What you see is the cause, and what you see is the answer.
Flat elevation
The main body of the columns are made of translucent polycarbonate (corrugated polycarbonate), with light fixtures installed inside. They can glow in different colors that correspond to the elements that they represent.
Mineral column = pink
Coal column = grey
Soil column = brown
Water column = blue
Vegetation column = green
Sunlight column = gold
Each column has reserved space for displaying artwork of the element. The display unit is created using recycled transparent polycarbonate.
A module of 40cm has been used in both plan and elevation. The columns’ diameter is 40cm, the gap between two neighboring columns is 40cm, and the display units are 40cm high and vertically 40cm from the next one. This dimension has been carefully chosen through experimentation in a 3D environment to create an intimate space and stimulate interactive behavior.
