In this brand-new gowithYamo series, Visualising the Zodiac, we explore ways in which art and astrology meet in an unexpected cosmic crossover. Each month, art historian and writer Melissa Baksh pairs a zodiac sign with a work of art that embodies its essence through its artistic style and tone.

This month, the spotlight is on avant-garde Aquarius (January 20 – February 19), the eleventh and penultimate sign of the zodiac. Although symbolised by the Water-Bearer, Aquarius is in fact an air sign – so think ideas, intellect and the big-picture thinking. Few artists embody these qualities as intuitively as Swiss visionary Emma Kunz (1892–1963), whose Work. 004 feels distinctly Aquarian in both form and thought.

At first glance, Work. 004 appears light, spacious and cerebral. Set against a pale background, its delicately muted colours and whisper-thin lines create an airy quality that perfectly mirrors Aquarius’ element. Rather than leading the eye along a singular path, the work forms a network. Made up entirely of geometric and abstract forms, its highly precise, linear and mathematical structure speaks to the sign’s analytical and curious mind. Fine, web-like lines radiate outwards, connecting small squares in multiple directions. It feels decidedly futuristic, recalling an electronic network or energetic grid. This decentralised structure reflects Aquarius’ affinity for technology, social justice and collective consciousness, where meaning emerges through connection rather than hierarchy.

The unusual way Kunz created her drawings only deepens this Aquarian reading. With no formal artistic training, Kunz was never thought to be an artist. Rather, she displayed telepathic talents and identified as both a healer and researcher. Working on graph paper with pencil, coloured pencils and oil pastels, Kunz incorporated her practice of Radiesthesia - the ability to sense energetic fields - into the artistic process. Standing at a table, she would swing a pendulum over the paper while asking questions, letting the pendulum’s movements determine the coordinates of each mark and line. The result is a work that feels guided by intuition and intelligence in equal measure; an unapologetically Aquarian hallmark.

For Kunz, these drawings functioned as energetic maps, intended to diagnose ailments and heal the mind, body and spirit. Therefore, every line, colour and form carried meaning and purpose. This logical yet metaphysical approach aligns with Aquarius’ unique ability to merge science with spirituality, reason with radical imagination.

And while Aquarians can often come off as aloof or detached, they are deeply logical thinkers with a knack for spotting patterns that others overlook. This mindset lends itself beautifully to Work. 004. Its repetition of forms, straight lines and seemingly endless connections offer countless ways to look, think and feel; there’s always something new to find.

Significantly, no single part of the work takes centre stage. Every line and form relies on the others, working together in quiet harmony. Remove one, and the whole thing unravels. This sense of interdependence reflects Kunz’s belief in the interconnectedness of humanity and nature, spirit and energy, and aligns seamlessly with Aquarius’ focus on the collective over the individual.

Each star sign is ruled by a planet, and Aquarius is ruled by Uranus, the planet of innovation, rebellion and radical originality (it even spins on its side, just to prove a point). It’s no surprise, then, that Aquarians are known as progressive visionaries who refuse to follow the crowd. The same unconventional energy pulses through Work. 004. The centre of the composition, with its energetic lines radiating in all directions, appears frenetic up close, yet when viewed as a whole, the work resolves into calm symmetry and balance. It captures Aquarius’ ability to dance (and thrive) somewhere between chaos and control. 

Resembling a softly spinning pinwheel, Work. 004 radiates dynamic, kinetic energy; a fitting metaphor for Aquarius, a sign that resists being fixed or pinned down. Like Kunz herself, Aquarians are free-thinking and future-focused, more concerned with what lies ahead than with conforming to the present times. Remarkably ahead of her time, Kunz once predicted that her work would only be understood in the 21st century, and she was right. Although she never exhibited her drawings during her lifetime, Kunz is now recognised as a true visionary, affirming that her inimitable practice - like Aquarius itself - was always several steps ahead of the game.

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