Journey of the Zodiac

I feel very grateful to have been part of this project. We began brainstorming the idea a for long time and planned to work together in Athens for ten days to make it happen. It was fun, inspiring and very fulfilling to create these images and texts. 

The prints from Journey of the Zodiac are a collaboration between artist Eloise Fornieles, curator Alix Janta-Polczynski and myself combining text and imagery to tell the narrative of the Zodiac in an artistic and innovative way.

I wrote the text next to each image which narrates the story of each sign but mainly the reason why one sign follows another. The story of the Zodiac is for me immensely inspiring as it expresses our history as humans. Knowing why Taurus comes after Aries and then transforms into Gemini is key to understanding the essential quality of a sign. Otherwise we can stay in stereotypes and end up limiting or pinning down each sign rather than allowing freedom to the energetic quality to exist in infinite ways. This is why in every image we made reference to the preceding sign and the following one as well as the element, ruling planet, the part of the body, mythology, colour, any instrument or concept and evolutionary process. 

Aries 

Keyword: I AM  

Symbol: The Ram 

Ruler: Mars 

Element: Fire 

Polarity: Yang 

Modality: Cardinal

Body: Head, face and eyes

Colour: Red

Aries begins the cycle of life, giving birth to the Zodiac and to the first day of Spring. 

Aries has an implicit understanding of the last of the twelve signs, Pisces, where there is a longing to surrender to the source of all life. In response to Pisces’ need to merge, fiery Aries wants to get life started again.

Ruled by Mars, the God of War, this sign is a warrior. 

Courageous, dynamic, independent, decisive and full of initiative. Aries will passionately lead others, seeking out excitement and danger on the way. 

Aries needs action and a cause to fight for. Aries’ youth, vitality and pioneering spirit makes them approach new circumstances naïvely, without perceiving potential danger. They dive into a new experience and then, once bored, move on to the next. 

Integrating their opposite sign, Libra, is part of their evolution. Aries can be unapologetic and undiplomatic, with anything and anyone that stops them reaching their goal. Recognising other people’s pace and desires is part of their journey and when Aires energy is developed, they learn they don’t need to battle all the time. 

Good warriors choose their battles wisely. They know when not to engage, and still win the war. 

Aries is from the 21st of March till the 20th of April