Tessel [Objects, Events]

Tessel is a collaboration between David Letellier and Lab [au], a Brussels based transdisciplinary studio.The kinetic installation investigates the perception of sound and space, inspired by the notion of ”tessellation”, a term applied to the geometric subdivision of a surface into plane units.

Tessellation has been applied throughout history from ancient to modern times, from two to n-dimensional configurations and merges science and art through mathematics. Here Tessel is based on the ‘pinwheel pattern’, a non-periodic tiling coined by mathematicians Charles Radin and John Conway, which allows the creation of an infinitely complex geometry constructed with a simple single “seed”: a right triangle. Here, the pinwheel pattern is transformed, folded and transposed to the third dimension.

The installation includes suspended topography of 4 x 2 m, subdivided into forty triangular mirrors (using the ‘ Pinwheel Tiling method). Twelve triangles are fitted with motors and eight triangles are equipped with audio transducers, which transform the surface into a dynamic sonic space. A dialogue between space and sound is created as the surface slowly modifies its shape, our perception of it altered through continuously changing light and sound reflection.

Read more at mediaruimte.be and nielswouters.be/tessel (in Dutch).

The exhibition runs until December 6, 2010. From Sunday to Thursday between 16h and 21h in the media room, Laekensestraat 104, 1000 Brussels.

Tessel is a co-production of the galleries MediaRuimte (Brussels) and Roger Tator (Lyon), Realized with the financial support of – Arcadi – Commission des Arts Numériques de la Communauté Française de Belgique

Filmed by Niels Wouter

Previously on CAN: Framework f5x5x5 [Environment]

02/12/2011: Updated images and new video.