Intentions

This Case Study began with the intention to develop a multi-layered, organic system from the principal of reflecting light indirectly from a multitude of individual light sources built into each part. It was conceived as a structural and aesthetic inversion of the previous two studies.

Component

To achieve indirect light, each component was designed to both hold a light source, in this case an LED, and to reflect the light. As with earlier bronze studies, each had to be shaped to transmit liquid metal as well as fuse to adjacent parts. The parts were cut from a flat sheet of wax. One half was punctured to hold a lamp and the other was shaped into a parabolic reflector. They were then folded so that the lamp socket pointed into the reflector.

Aggregation/Mutation Strategy

This is a system of similar parts with a variable connection strategy. However, the variable connection was only intended to have partial effect on the mutation of the final form. Based on experience from previous work with wax, it was apparent that the soft wax structure would deform most from imperfections and the effects of gravity during assembly. The wax parts were fused together leaving appendages that held air vents. Once cast, the filled air vents were removed and the same appendages served to hold wood spikes intended to insulate copper wires from the bronze. Finally, LEDs were inserted with one lead touching the bronze and one touching the outer copper wire grid creating a parallel circuit to power the lamps.