3 - 15. Bronze gears

033

Oil, canvas

19.7" x 19.7" (50 x 50 cm)

Kyiv, 2014

Magic square 3x3 matrix is formed by various bronze gears. The upper row corresponds to the numbers 8, 3, 4. Medium – 1, 5, 9; bottom – 6, 7, 2. These numbers can be “extracted” by сounting spokes on each of them and through analyzing the visual size of each gear. The gear corresponding to “9” is the biggest, “1” – the smallest. The disk area of each gear is proportional to the numbers from 1 to 9. Accordingly, the radii are proportional to the square roots of the numbers from 1 to 9.

The sums of rows, columns and diagonals are equal to 15. Accordingly, there are 15 rivets on the massive bronze plate the gears are assembled on.

The bronze looks quite old. The effect of aging is achieved by using thin scumble glazing of wolchonskoit. Other gears of much bigger size are partly visible behind the mechanism. Some reddish reflections can be seen in the dark depth of the mechanism.

The rotation is conveyed from the central gear corresponding to the number “5” to all the others by means of wheelwork. The number “5” is the central point of any magic square and has a profound symbolic meaning in many cultures and occult systems. It can symbolize man, health, fifth element, Mercury (planet), and many other things.