| Description: | The purpose of this course is to give students the instruments to understand the deep link between sacred, hidden knowledge on the one hand and art and architecture on the other. The course draws on the idea that for a long time certain kinds of knowledge or wisdom were available only to a very small group of people but are now potentially available to all. These kinds of knowledge are like pieces of a puzzle that has to be reconstructed in order to make sense. It has the potential to offer a rich and meaningful perspective on the art and craft of architecture, from antiquity to today, as well as one of the most powerful bridges between primeval and modern art. The course will investigate concepts such as: sacred geometry, and its profound influence on art, buildings and city planning in ancient times; the messages hidden in the painted and sculpted decoration of buildings using a sacred language and transforming a cathedral into a real book that we can read if in possession of the keys of interpretation; the theory of proportions as a key to decoding the mysteries of Egyptian as well as modern architecture; the stellar symbols in religious architecture; the sacred knowledge conveyed by esoteric disciplines such as alchemy and associations such as Freemasonry; Chinese feng shui and Indian vaastu, or the ancient arts of creating a harmonic dwelling; and microcosm and macrocosm theory, according to which there is a perfect correspondence between the cosmic reality and every human being. The course analyses the history of architecture all around the world in the search for a common denominator that may connect all cultures and it will also deal with those contemporary artists and architects who have been fascinated by the above concepts. |