Sluis voor het waterbassin op Sarkhej Roza bij Ahmedabad before 1866

This photograph by Thomas Biggs captures the sluice for the water basin at Sarkhej Roza near Ahmedabad. Here, the arched openings of the sluice serve not only as an architectural element but also as a potent symbol of transition and passage. Arches, seen across cultures from Roman aqueducts to Renaissance paintings, embody the idea of bridging worlds, both physical and spiritual. In ancient Rome, arches commemorated victories and marked sacred entrances. Later, they appeared in Christian art as a symbol of divine access. Consider how these arched forms resonate in the collective psyche, evoking the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. The repetition of the arches invites us to contemplate the thresholds we encounter, mirroring the psychological passages that shape our identities. The emotional power of these forms lies in their ability to tap into our shared, subconscious understanding of life's continuities. They echo through time, embodying a persistent human quest for connection.