The themes of this gallery revolve around the relationship between unity and variety. Variety within unity can come in a remarkable number of ways, whether by placement, texture, shape, or color of the individual elements. This gallery serves as a showcase of these different methods, and each piece will showcase variety in a different way.
“Yawata” horses, From the collection of: Aomori’s Traditional Handicrafts
Originating in Japan, the "Yawata" horses are displayed in beautiful unity. The variety does not come from distinctions in the objects themselves, but rather how they are arranged around the poles.
These armored boots were once worn by a Mongolian warrior. There is a beautiful unity in the texture of the cracked leather and scratched wood, but also a chaotic variety in the way the marks lay.
This string of skull rosary beads originated in Mongolia. Even though there is unity in the skull beads themselves, there is also variety as each skull has its own personality and hand crafted nature.
This tool from ancient Mongolia is a piece of functional art. Though all similar, variety comes as each of the holes represent a place where a stick has been turned to create fire from friction.
Eliot Elisofon, 1949-03, From the collection of: LIFE Photo Collection
In this Buddhist depiction of hell found in Angkor Wat, a wide variety of figures are expressed in various states of torment. Unity is found in the fact that none of the sufferers have an escape.
Great Sights Of The World Hawii , Japan , Cambodia, Eliot Elisofon, 1949, From the collection of: LIFE Photo Collection
This anachronistic image set in the ruins of Angkor Thom depicts a group of men dressed alike, as in unity. However, variety gives their individual personalities through their posture and expression.
Vineyards in Manarola , Cinque Terre , Italy, Jupiterimages, 2008-01-17, From the collection of: Getty Images
This image depicts vineyards on the hills of the Cinque Terre in Italy. Even though there is such unity in the stepped terraces, the way each one cuts into the mountains gives them a unique variety.
The Sermon of Saint John the Baptist, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, 1566, From the collection of: Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest
This painting depicts John the Baptist preaching to a large crowd, who all appear eager to hear what the disciple has to say. Note that John is the only character facing the viewer, giving variety.
untitled, Ana Leonor Madeira Rodrigues, 1990, From the collection of: East Side Gallery
This untitled piece by Ana Leonor Madeira Rodrigues depicts multiple figures dressed the same way. However, variety is added to this feeling of unity by the one figure standing apart from the others.
Untitled, JonOne, 2014, From the collection of: Pera Museum
This untitled piece by JonOne is a beautiful abstract expression of script and line. The gradient of colors gives variety to the individual strokes, which show unity in their orderly repetition.
Credits: All media
This user gallery has been created by an independent third party and may not represent the views of the institutions whose collections include the featured works or of Google Arts & Culture.
