Prima facie, The Third Paradise is not something that can be understood at first glance. While the main gist can be interpreted by the infinity looking shape of the symbol, however, upon researching and hearing Michelangelo Pistoletto talk about the significance of the symbol, I feel the moment of enlightenment and how such a simple symbol can embody such intense knowledge and purposefulness.

Firstly, Pistoletto talked about how the symbol is about finding a balance in everything. With nature and artificial, we find a balance through the symmetricity and with this, it acts almost like a reminder to the audience and artists that the boon or bane lies solely in every individual. We are holding freedom to do almost anything in this world but it is our responsibility to utilize such entity with caution. In the ideal visionary, the ethical behaviours and guiding principle that will ensure the continuity of this society.

Secondly, the use of everyday objects and Pistoletto mentioning about Arte Povera during the talk reminds me that The Third Paradise is highly likely to be influenced by the art movement. Arte Povera was emphatically anti-representational, responding to the new consumer landscape by eliminating artifice and reclaiming the elemental facts of material existence and human. By minimising the elements here, the essence of the materials are highlighted and a different context is emphasized.

Thirdly, having seen many different versions and photos of The Third Paradise online, I realised that most of them seem to use very simple everyday objects like clothes and stones, and in ADM case, leaves and flowers. Upon some look up, the leaves used to form the symbol on ADM is Red Sessile Joyweed. These plants are very common in Singapore, hence, I guessed this might be why the plants are used here as it is very relatable by people in the local context and also it gives me the message the symbol is universal- no matter where it goes, the same overarching principle of finding balance in everything still applies.

All in all, Michelangelo Pistoletto has successfully made it happen and being someone who has gone through many world affairs like WWII, there must be a strong underlying principle why he is promoting such principles to the world. Who knew such deep analogies can be applied to a simple symbol like this?