Gaia: Earth Goddess, Mother of All Beings
Stories Behind My Art
This painting marked a turning point — it was the first work I created with a clear sense of purpose and inner intention, not as an exercise or imitation, but as a conscious dialogue between art, philosophy, and ecology.
I painted it as a birthday gift for Mr. Yang Hao, the original creator of the WuSheng (五生) Theory and founder of the AgriGaia® sustainable agriculture system.
His philosophy — rooted in respect, wisdom, and renewal — deeply resonated with me. Through his ideas, I began to see Gaia not merely as a mythic figure,
but as the living embodiment of balance between humanity and nature.
This painting later became the symbolic foundation of my own path, where I began to integrate the WuSheng Theory with art therapy, transforming its ecological wisdom into a framework for emotional healing and creative reflection.
In this work, Gaia sits calmly by the riverside, gently cradling the Earth in her hands — her gesture a silent act of care and continuity. Around her, flowing rivers, fruit trees, and distant mountains echo the cycles of giving, renewal, and interdependence.
As I painted, I sought to translate that harmony into form and color:
- the purple figure as the embodiment of wisdom and quiet strength,
- the river as life’s unending pulse,
- the mountain as the stability of faith,
- and the fruit tree as the generosity of the Earth.
This work became my offering — a prayer for renewal, for balance, and for the remembering of our place within the living system of the world.he world.
Artwork Description
Basic Information
- Title: Gaia: Earth Goddess, Mother of All Beings
- Year: 2022/06/21
- Size: 12P (approx. 41 × 53 cm)
- Medium: Oil on Canvas, Palette Knife
- Technique: Thick impasto, layered colors, emphasizing the rhythm of natural energy
- Gifted to: Mr. Yang Hao (birthday gift)
- Inspiration Source: Combination of the Gaia archetype and images from Mr. Yang Hao’s book, and tribute to his “AgriGaia® Sustainable Technology Agriculture System”, a unique farming method that:
- Enriches soil fertility
- Saves 70% of water and 85% of labor
- Requires no pesticides and no plowing
- Shows high resilience to climate change
Visual Elements and Imagery
- Central Figure: A woman with purple hair and dress, sitting calmly on a riverside stone, holding the Earth in her hands
- Fruit Tree: A tree full of red apples, symbolizing abundance and nourishment
- River: Blue-green water flowing across the canvas, symbolizing life and cycles
- Mountains: Tall blue peaks in the distance, conveying protection and sacred stability
- Sky and Birds: A flock of birds in flight, symbolizing freedom and higher vision
- Flora and Fields: Plants such as salvia root, cabbage, broccoli, and red-leaf greens, representing ecological coexistence
Symbolism and Psychological Layers
- Woman as Gaia: Both observer and guardian, symbolizing the unity of humans and nature
- Color Psychology:
- Purple → Spirituality, intuition, higher thought
- Green → Healing, nourishment, renewal
- Blue → Calmness, inner peace, inclusiveness
- Birds in Flight: Metaphor for freedom and transcendence beyond limitations