Elements of Venice

Godai, the Japanese philosophy of five elements , is derived from Buddhism and traditional Chinese medicine. Godai teaches there are five elements in the Universe from which all things are produced: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and the Void. The five elements are dynamic and ever-changing; no one element exists apart from its relationship to everything else. In everyday life, all five elements need to be in balance. Together, the 'great five' are said to explain the nature of things, of actions, of societies, and of people. As I explored this ancient concept, I began to apply it to my photography of Venice - a place defined by the cultural fusion of the greatest duality, East meeting West. As I identified Venice by the elements of Godai, a new vision of the City developed before my eyes.