ORO Editions

Wood

In this suit we draw from Eastern traditions to incorporate the elemental energy of wood as a manifestation of the spirit of the natural world. The Taoist philosophy of the five elements expresses the dynamic balance of the universe through the interactions of earth, metal, fire, water, and wood. Fire can destroy wood, yet wood can feed fire; wood can break earth, yet earth can bury wood. The attributes of each element derive not only from its physical characteristics but also its metaphysical properties; achieving harmony through consciousness is the goal. Wood is associated with the capacity for creative growth and emergence, as represented by the spring season.

We interpret wood broadly as representative of the entire plant kingdom and examine the symbolism of plants and their roles in various cultural practices that are based on an awareness of their ecological value. An ecosystem is a complex network reliant on keystone plant species. Without plants there would be no life on earth. Plants provide food, habitat, medicine, even the air we breathe. Less obvious are the functions that plants perform in controlling erosion, preventing floods and landslides, pollinating crops, and storing carbon.