For this piece I chose to focus on one of the most common symbols throughout history: the world pillar, axis mundi. As the center of the world, the pillar connects Earth to the equivalent of Heaven and Hell. This symbol is represented as many different things, but the ones I was most drawn to were the forms of the cosmic tree, feminine nature, religious architecture, and the altar. I have decided to leave it to the viewer to determine which of the figures represent Earth, Heaven and Hell. Also, I chose to design the figures as vases, so that as a vessel they are each able to hold part of the spirit of the world, inspired by tulip vases.

Mythopoeia, Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA. 2013