Bringing Forms to Life
“Life, the universal power, or energy which flows everywhere at all times, in all places, seeking expression in form….” ~ Louis Sullivan
“It is possible to paint a living thing.” - Philip Guston
How can we greater serve the life and beauty on earth?
Over time, space can be given value by adding beauty. This continuum does not have strict borders, but approximate and adaptive boundary zones and centers.
Bringing forms to life is one of the primary functions of art and architecture. As opposed to Cartesian space, value and life are inherent to space. The universe is not a collection of separate objects, but rather a continuous whole, and this wholeness can be perceived through our sense of life. When creating (ie. a drawing) it is conceivable that every added agent (ie. line) can increase or decrease that form’s life. Good design makes one feel more connected to that space and connects to its greater context. The higher the degree of connection, the greater the Life. As the life form develops and grows with its environment, its Nature changes over time. A living work is a window to what is True.
Art should not merely be pleasant or interesting, but it should be contribution to the spiritual condition of the world. We should strive to make others more related to the universe and the truth of creativity.
The architect and theorist Christopher Alexander expands upon this notion more in depth in the four volumes of the ‘Nature of Order’ where he describes 15 properties of living systems. These properties are based on the observation of natural forms and the way they grow and evolve over time. In his work, Alexander explains that every living form is made up of smaller, living parts. By incorporating these properties into our designs, we can create spaces and works of art that are alive and vibrant. Each property has a unique contribution to the aliveness of a system, and together they create a sense of wholeness and connection to the larger context.
Through a deep understanding of these properties, we can create spaces and works of art that are not only beautiful but also serve the greater purpose of contributing to the aliveness of the world. It is through the integration of these properties that we can better serve the life and beauty on earth.
