Matej Stor, Ljubljana SI
THE RECOGNITION OF THE ARCHETYPE PATTERNS IN THE SLOVENIAN VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
Various signs and characters often appear in Slovenian vernacular architecture. The ones we find most often are simple circular geometric patterns in the wooden "master" beams, they are cut into stone porches or simply drawn on the facade. More complex ornamental structures also appear in almost all spheres of Slovenian vernacular art.
Among separate signs and characters all over Slovenia similarities can be found. They appear mainly as rosettes, based on pentagons and hexagons.
Stylistically the mentioned signs are hard to determine; they appear to be above time and seem symbolic, sometimes magic. The architectural comparison and connection of the ceiling rosettes with the Gothic keystones exists. Through the symbols they can be compared in the global space, in various ethnic groups, in all times.
After all this, the thesis that the mentioned signs with its simple realisation are just ornaments sounds too simplified. If we observe them through the symbols, they can offer us an inner significance, hidden behind the their visual exterior through which they communicate. As archetypes - original patterns which cannot be derived from any earlier ones, they can influence our lives, directly or indirectly and on different levels.
In the Slovenian tradition they must, through the understanding of their content, quality and purpose, as important elements purposely be guilt into the architecture.