What is the fourth dimension?

There are many theories as to what the fourth dimension may be, whether it is time, light or other. How we understand space also plays are huge part in what we imagine the fourth dimension to be. We live in a world where there are only three dimensional things, therefore it is difficult for us to be able to understand how to visualise it, or how it even is constructed. A great book to read to understand how we visualise and interpret space is Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions  by Edwin A. Abbott. This influenced my comprehension and approach to the subject through my work. If dimensions run on a pattern, it is thought by some that a tesseract would be formed, though this is just a theory.

                    

In my studio practice, visualising what the fourth dimension could be has become of great importance. I want my work to not only be three dimensional, but also contain elements of what could be considered the fourth dimension to be. Through experimentation I feel it could be time, and I want my work to be ever changing and constantly evolving. Using matt emulsion on folded canvas has become centre of my attention at the moment, and emulsion can be seen as unsuitable for paintings, as it is known to flake and crack, meaning the work will most likely need to be restored much sooner than other substances, for example oil paint. I want my work to be constantly changing over time, more paint peeling and flaking and adding to the pile of paint shavings on the ground below itself. This work can potentially become a timeless, ever changing, three dimensional painting, therefore can this represent the fourth dimension?

I hope to continue experimenting with other theories and try to incorporate them within my work, for example light and space. I hope for my work to evolve into something that represents my understanding of the fourth dimension.