Shewing platforms in previous plate after building out first strut 1887

This anonymous photograph depicts the intricate scaffolding platforms that temporarily support a bridge during its construction. Here, we see the careful orchestration of lines and the promise of a path between places, an anticipation of connection, all held aloft by the temporary structures. Like the labyrinth, these scaffoldings guide us through a complex path, which in turn, becomes an allusion to a higher, more spiritual understanding. Consider the labyrinthine structures of Gothic cathedrals, with their soaring arches and complex vaulting, which were also built upon elaborate scaffolding systems. These temporary structures are the hidden bones, like the ever turning wheel, that supports the grand design, the sacred space. The precariousness of these frameworks—the delicate balance between stability and collapse—evokes a profound emotional response, a deep-seated awareness of our own vulnerability and the transient nature of human endeavors. It stirs within us the collective memory of human aspiration, the yearning to overcome earthly limitations and bridge the gaps that separate us.