Space (Akasa)
Akasa, the fifth element unknown in Western traditions, is the most mysterious of all elements to understand. It is comparable to the concept of Enlightenment (moksa, nirwana), which does not result in everlasting life or entry into a glorious heaven but the dissolution of the self-cherishing ego into the absolute Emptiness that is the essence of existence.The concept of Emptiness is illustrated in Balinese art by mystical drawings that serve as maps and inspirational role models for our spiritual journey. Examples here include the human body painted as the macro-micro cosmos, magical heroes such as the monkey allies of Rama, Hanoman and Sugriwa, and allusions to tantric practices in the erotic drawing of Arjuna embracing the celestial nymph Supraba.