French philosopher Gaston Bachelard considered the four elements to be fundamental sources of inspiration for poetry and imagination. He analysed how each element, with its qualities and symbolism, shapes our dreams, myths, and perceptions of the world.
Thus, Earth represents stability, solidity, and refuge for him. It is an element linked to security and materiality, but also to melancholy and rest. Water is a dynamic and changing element, associated with fluidity, emotions, and the subconscious. Air is linked to lightness, elevation, and the intellect, associated with thought, imagination, and freedom. Fire is an ambivalent element, associated with both destruction and purification, energy and passion.

In short, the four elements are not simply physical components of the world, but powerful symbols that shape our human experience and our imagination.

In the Green Tales project, we wanted to associate an artist with each element, as a source of inspiration for all those involved in the project. Thus, we collected texts and music by Gérard Kurkdjian centered on the theme of water. For air, we gathered texts and paintings by Jean-Michel Folon.