Metamorphosis

Some readers will be aware of the work done by Goethe and Steiner on metamorphosis and transformation, in the first instance applied to plants and then to life forms more generally. In this inspirational work, sculptor Gertraud Goodwin joins other artists and scientists in this exploration of form, beginning with the platonic solids and considering as well as illustrating many aspects of metamorphosis. In this respect, the sequences of images are crucial and sometimes very moving as one reflects on the cycle between egg or seed and the fully formed organism. I was particularly struck by Canto De La Vida on page 57, where one's eye is drawn across the page and back again at the four stages. Another fascinating dynamic is the unfolding into space followed by the enfolding of space within the form, corresponding to evolution and involution, expansion and contraction. Throughout the book, images complement the written word and give the reader a clear feel for the process. Anyone interested in metamorphosis should certainly read this book.