CSE325 Computer Science

and Sculpture

Prof. George Hart

20th + 21st CenturyPolyhedra-Based Sculpture

Freed from constraints of representation and figurative form, sculptors in the 20th century began to explore spatial concepts of “pure form”. Platonic solids provide one storehouse of fundamental ideas.

Questions to Ask for Each Object

• Is there an underlying polyhedral form?• Geometric transformations, if any• Materials selected (and why?)• Technique:

– If Constructive: Assembly? Connectors? – If Subtractive: Carving? Guiding process?

• Artistic Intent vs. Mathematical Model?• How might computer technology be used?

Alexander Graham Bell

Alexander Graham Bell

David Barr

“Four Corners Project”

Arthur Silverman

John Robinson

John Sharp

Gayla Chandler

Harry Muller and Geoff Wyvill

London Symphony

John Simms

Cubes

Cubes

Cubes

Cubes

Cubes

Tony Rosenthal Isamu Noguchi

Pieter Blom

Atomium

Atomium

Kenneth Landry

Kenneth Landry

Sol LeWitt

Sol LeWitt

Cubes

David Smith

Aaron Kellner

Aaron Kellner

Bruce Beasley

Bruce Beasley

Watermelons!

Dominic Labino

Gregory Parsons

Lexington High School

Buckminster Fuller

Bathsheba Grossman

Gisbert Hasenjaeger

Ovidiu Opresco

Ovidiu Opresco

Guess. (Not a sculpture)

Jim Blower

Gayla Chandler

Sam Spiczka

Sam Spiczka

Sam Spiczka

Eric Swab

Arden Miller

Dar Shelton

Erik Drury

Matthew Cook

Stephen Luecking

Finji Cable Clark

Laura Shea

Kyle Osvog

Kyle Osvog

Kyle Osvog

Kyle Osvog

Kyle Osvog

Kyle Osvog

Kyle Osvog

Kyle Osvog

Stephen Luecking

George Olshevski

John Vonachen

John Vonachen

?

Harry Muller

George Rod

Magnus Wenninger

Breckenridge Entry

Vladimir Bulatov

Vladimir Bulatov

Rob Pierce

Jim Plank

Mark NewboldSarah Mylchreest

Leigh Boileau

Leigh Boileau

Gary Moresky

Ture Wester

Buckminster Fuller

Dan Suttin

Bradford Hansen-Smith

Bradford Hansen-Smith

Carlo Sequin

Carlo Sequin

Greg Fredrickson

Antonio Gaudi

John Robinson

John Robinson

John Robinson

Temari

Sylvain Weber

Jack Snoeyink

Magnus Wenninger

Magnus Wenninger

Magnus Wenninger

Magnus Wenninger

Magnus Wenninger

Sandor Kabai

Ron Resch

Scott Roberts

Scott Roberts

Tony Smith

Tony Smith

M.C. Escher

M. C. Escher

M.C. Escher

M.C. Escher

M.C. Escher

M.C. Escher

M. C. Escher

Gravity Netherlands (physics dept.)

Ulrich Mikloweit

Ulrich Mikloweit

Ulrich Mikloweit

Ulrich Mikloweit

Ulrich Mikloweit

Tom Lechner

Tom Lechner

Tom Lechner

Tom Lechner

Tom Lechner

Conclusions

Polyhedra are one source of three-dimensional forms which provide a foundation for design in the work of many modern (20th and 21st century) sculptors.