What is ornament and what is its magic

Ornament is a frozen magic of eternal rhythms. He is gossiped from stylized symbols, in which human relationships, the whole surrounding world and his ideas about him, about life, about death, about eternity are coded. This definition is somewhat poetic, but not scientific enough. So what is an ornament from the point of view of geometry, art criticism and even semiotics, since individual symbols of it perform, among others, a communicative function? The simplest figures, from which a more complex pattern is formed, are the same for almost all cultures. Differences are manifested in the other - in the frequency and features of the image of a particular symbol. In some nations, circles are often observed as a symbol of the sun, others have a spiral as a symbol of eternity. Geometric ornaments are composed of such elements as:

• A winding line - a symbol of water and the world's volatility;
• The circle is the sign of the sun and infinity;
• The cross is a symbol of the male (sky) and female (earth).

Everything that happens in the world is cyclical, subject to the rhythms that permeate the whole life of nature. Rhythm generates a vibration. And this is life - so says science. Day and night, summer and winter, rush and ebb - all controlled by one common rhythm. A person has always felt his presence, knew about him and reflected this knowledge in an ornament that Is a plane with rhythmically repeating elements located on it. The initial knowledge of geometry is enough to understand what ornament is like a complex of graphic signs.

Cross as an element of ornament and amulet

It is fair to consider geometry the basis of any ornament, since the world consists of lines and volumes. However, in addition to the geometric pattern proper , there are also vegetative, zoomorphic, anthropomorphic. These species are distinguished by the motives expressed in them. Ancient man in general perceived all the objects of the surrounding world as signs of some hidden, unmanifested content, a mysterious meaning. It is not surprising that pagan symbols are so firmly established in all religions. On the example of the cross, it is easy to understand what ornament is, as an expression of divine truth, as a certain ritual attribute. For Christians, this is the guardian, the symbol of God, the sacrifice, repentance, salvation. Cross as an element of the magical pattern is present in the Ukrainian embroidered X and towels, in Russian embroidered shirts, in the national clothes of many other, not necessarily Christian, peoples.

Ornament today

In architecture and arts and crafts, ornaments were used before and as elements of magic protection, and as decoration. Today, the magic function is reduced to nothing, only decorative remains. Traditionally, the architectural ornament was engraved in stone, Russian carving - in a tree. Less often it was cast in gold, silver, bronze. Gypsum and clay were also used. On the surface of the finished ornament was painted, the colors were selected in strict accordance with the tradition. In modern architecture, this pattern is not very popular, and when it is resorted to, they do not care very much about observing traditions in both signs and colors. But interior designers are very willing to exploit its decorative features, although they do not generally have a deep idea of what an ornament is. So it turns out that in our bedrooms, created according to the latest fashion, very often there are signs-antagonists, neighborhoods which our ancestors would never allow. But what if the ornament really has magical power, and we run the risk of falling under its power? It is worth pondering!