Mapping the Energy Centers of the City
Looking at the city as a single living organism one needs to consider, like the human body, that the city is always in constant flux.
The same goes for the human body's energetic systems. Each energy system is unique and transforms its nature and character based on the other, the functions that they serve, and how each system affects the whole and vice versa. Complex in nature different actions and energetic principles, the city can be said to be the same.
The body is made up of many body systems, a group of parts that work together to serve a common purpose. For example, the circulatory system, the respiratory system, the nervous system, and more. You can compare a body system to all systems of city life all dependent on each other yet they are autonomous. For example, such as waste management, transportation, health care system, and many more.
All these body systems depend upon and communicate with each other. When our bodies are in balance, we have energy, efficiency, and vitality. Out of balance, we have diseases and deficiencies. In cities we strive for the same; a common purpose that is dependent on a reciprocal relationship, when out of synchronicity harm can be afflicted on entire groups of people, systems become useless and the population can be controlled.
This framework of these reciprocal relationships is the structure of this project, a lens to explore deeper into the energetics of a living city and the relationship within our bodies and the bodies we are in relation to.
I mapped out and traveled to seven different locations representing the seven main energy systems. making correlations between the system's principles through observation, channeling, and research, using various methods including design, writing, video, sound recordings, and photography.
For each city I mapped, I invited the public to “Balance Arts Center” an impromptu healing arts center to share my energetic healing practice centered around Reiki and my findings working in these different designated chakra points. A hub to share my process and findings and to gather personal insight from others to be included in the project.
Years:
2018 - current
Ingredients:
Graphic Design, Video, Sound, Photography, Writing.
Iterations:
Berlin, Germany, 2021
Tbilisi, Georgia, 2018
Title:
"Mapping the Energy Centers of Berlin"
Years:
2021- current
Ingredients:
Graphic Design, Video, Photography.
Berlin is a unique city and its recent history of division into quarters adds another layer of reflection on the concepts of division and unification, which is literally seen as a division of the heart chakra.
Click on image below to view it enlarged.
In “Mapping the Energy Centers of Berlin” I mapped out the seven different locations representing the seven main energy (chakra) systems but also supplemented this demarcation with a map of the Berlin Wall.
Berlin is a unique city and its recent history of division into quarters adds another layer of reflection on the concepts of division and unification, which is literally seen as a division of the heart chakra.
This is still a work in progress and was previewed while in residency at ZK/U.
Title:
"Mapping the Energy Centers of Tbilisi"
Years:
2018 - current
Ingredients:
Graphic Design, Video, Photography, Writing.
Exhibitions:
2018 Tbilisi Triennial
2018 Artisterium
In a dream, I realized the city of Tbilisi as a single entity and the demarcation of the city's energy points, inspired by my practice as an energy healer and what I was witnessing daily in the streets after the Georgian night club raids in 2018.
At this time in Tbilisi, there were many political actions in the streets and many polarized views on display. I kept on thinking about the collective thread reflected in my dream, and how it could be an interesting perspective to work with the land, the people, and its history using the chakra principles as a guide.
I mapped out the city of Tbilisi by using the transportation map as the guide. I matched up how I visualized my dream and then delineated the seven different locations representing the seven energy centers. I made correlations between the principles of the energy center, through channeling, research, and how I experienced each place.
I organized myself for several months to spend time in each place, to photograph, make sound recordings, and videos, and writing of my findings.
I later took these findings and made a design journal that is both a tool for learning about the energy centers and visually shows this project through maps and images and can even be considered a guide to the city of Tbilisi.
