Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Poster Text
THEME
THE HUMAN BRAIN IS ONE OF, IF NOT THE MOST GEOMETRICALLY
COMPLEX NATURAL STRUCTURE ON EARTH. FOR THE PURPOSES OF
EXPERIMENTAL MODELLING, TWO REGIONS OF THE BRAIN HAVE
PARTICULARLY INTERESTING GEOMETRY - THE CEREBRAL CORTEX AND
THE CEREBELLUM. THE CEREBRAL CORTEX, SEEN IN THE IMAGE IN THE
TOP RIGHT, IS A CONVOLUTED LAYER OF NEURAL TISSUE THAT FORMS
THE OUTER PERIMETER OF THE BRAIN. THE CEREBELLUM, SEEN IN THE
TOP LEFT, IS A SMALLISH KNOT OF HORIZONTAL FURROWS. EACH HAS
A UNIQUE APPEARANCE, BUT WHEN BROKEN DOWN INTO THEIR BASIC
UNITS OF GEOMETRY, THEY ARE BOTH ESSENTIALLY A SERIES OF LINES
OR TUBES THAT INTERLOCK, INTERWEAVE AND DISSECT EACHOTHER.
IT IS THIS FASCINATING INTERPLAY OF GEOMETRY THAT I ATTEMPTED
TO EXPLORE THROUGH MY MODEL. I WANTED TO EXPLOIT THE
POTENTIAL FOR DYNAMISM AND BEAUTY THAT THIS STRUCTURE
EXHIBITS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME CELEBRATING THE UNIQUENESS OF
EACH PRODUCT OF NATURE. THESE TWO PARTS OF THE BRAIN PERFORM
EXACTLY THE SAME FUNCTIONS IN THE SIX BILLION HUMANS ON EARTH,
HOWEVER NO TWO ARE THE SAME, AND IT IS THIS RANDOM QUALITY
OF NATURE THAT I PARTICULARLY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT.
VARIABLE 1
THESE ITERATIONS WERE PRODUCED USING THE DIVIDE COMPONENT TO MULTIPLY THE NUMBER OF POINTS ALONG EACH CURVE OF THE MODEL. IN DOING SO, THE MODEL HAS THE POTENTIAL TO TRANSFORM FROM A RELATIVELY POROUS STRUCTURE, TO AN IMMENSELY DENSE ENTITY OF INTERWEAVING “TUBES”. BY SPACING AND EFFECTIVELY SINGLING OUT THE MODEL’S KEY GEOMETRIC FEATURE (THE LINE OR PIPE) I AM ABLE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO IT, AND THEREFORE TRANSLATE A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE MODEL, AS WELL AS THE THEME.
VARIABLE 2
THESE FOUR ITERATIONS WERE CREATED BY MODIFYING THE LENGTH OF THE X, Y AND Z VECTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CURVES OF THE MODEL. WHAT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE IS THAT AS THE VECTORS INCREASE IN LENGTH, THE STRUCTURE OF THE MODEL BECOMES LESS CONVOLUTED, WITH MORE OF A SENSE OF ORDER TO ITS SHAPE. BY PRODUCING THESE ITERATIONS, I HOPED TO DEMONSTRATE THE WAY IN WHICH NATURE INCORPORATES BOTH TANGLED RANDOMNESS AND LOGICAL STRUCTURE INTO THE GEOMETRY OF ITS FORMS.
VARIABLE 3
THE FINAL FOUR ITERATIONS WERE PRODUCED THROUGH THE USE OF THE SHIFT
COMPONENT, WHICH OFFSET THE LINES CONNECTING THE POINTS ON EACH CURVE,
RELATIVE TO THEIR ORIGINAL POSITIONS. THIS RESULTED IN DYNAMIC CHANGES TO THE SHAPE OF THE MODEL, AND THROUGH THIS I WAS ABLE TO OUTLINE THE RANDOM AND UNIQUE WAY NATURAL FORMS ARE MADE. WHAT IS AMAZING IS THAT EVERY COMBINATION OF GEOMETRY IN NATURE IS DIFFERENT, AND YET EACH STILL RETAINS A RAW BEAUTY. IT IS THIS POWERFUL COMBINATION OF QUALITIES THAT I BELIEVE HAS MADE THE BRAIN SUCH A SUCCESSFUL SUBJECT FOR EXPERIMENTAL MODELLING.
METHOD AND REFLECTION
TO CREATE MY MODEL I CONSTRUCTED TWO CIRCLES, WHOSE
CIRCUMFERENCES WERE LINED WITH POINTS (USING THE DIVIDE
COMPONENT). THESE POINTS WERE JOINED USING THE LINE COMPONENT,
WHILE X, Y AND Z VECTORS CREATED ITERATIONS OF THE GEOMETRY
WHICH BRANCHED OFF IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. THE SHIFT COMPONENT
WAS PLACED TO CONTROL THE OFFSET OF THE LINES, AND ALL OF THIS
WAS FED INTO A CONE COMPONENT TO GIVE THE MODEL SOME SURFACE
AREA. LASTLY, A PIPE COMPONENT WAS USED TO FLESH OUT THE FORM
OF THE LINES, CREATING THE TUBE-LIKE APPEARANCE OF THE MODEL’S
SURFACE. SLIDERS WERE ATTACHED TO THE VECTOR, DIVIDE AND
SHIFT COMPONENTS TO CREATE EACH VARIABLE.
WHILE CHALLENGING, GRASSHOPPER IS AN EXCITING PROGRAM THAT
OBVIOUSLY HAS ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES WHEN IT COMES TO THE
REALISATION OF ARCHITECTURALLY AMBITIOUS DESIGNS. I FOUND IT
RELATIVELY DIFFICULT TO PICK UP, CONSIDERING ITS ABSTRACT AND
MATHEMATICAL APPROACH, BUT I AM PLEASED WITH THE RESULT I HAVE
ACHIEVED. I BELIEVE MY MODEL IS SUCCESSFUL IN CAPTURING THE
GEOMETRIC ESSENCE OF MY THEME, AND REPRESENTING IT IN A
COHERENT AND VISUALLY APPEALING MANNER. I LOOK FORWARD TO
FURTHER EXPLORING WHAT GRASSHOPPER HAS TO OFFER.
THE HUMAN BRAIN IS ONE OF, IF NOT THE MOST GEOMETRICALLY
COMPLEX NATURAL STRUCTURE ON EARTH. FOR THE PURPOSES OF
EXPERIMENTAL MODELLING, TWO REGIONS OF THE BRAIN HAVE
PARTICULARLY INTERESTING GEOMETRY - THE CEREBRAL CORTEX AND
THE CEREBELLUM. THE CEREBRAL CORTEX, SEEN IN THE IMAGE IN THE
TOP RIGHT, IS A CONVOLUTED LAYER OF NEURAL TISSUE THAT FORMS
THE OUTER PERIMETER OF THE BRAIN. THE CEREBELLUM, SEEN IN THE
TOP LEFT, IS A SMALLISH KNOT OF HORIZONTAL FURROWS. EACH HAS
A UNIQUE APPEARANCE, BUT WHEN BROKEN DOWN INTO THEIR BASIC
UNITS OF GEOMETRY, THEY ARE BOTH ESSENTIALLY A SERIES OF LINES
OR TUBES THAT INTERLOCK, INTERWEAVE AND DISSECT EACHOTHER.
IT IS THIS FASCINATING INTERPLAY OF GEOMETRY THAT I ATTEMPTED
TO EXPLORE THROUGH MY MODEL. I WANTED TO EXPLOIT THE
POTENTIAL FOR DYNAMISM AND BEAUTY THAT THIS STRUCTURE
EXHIBITS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME CELEBRATING THE UNIQUENESS OF
EACH PRODUCT OF NATURE. THESE TWO PARTS OF THE BRAIN PERFORM
EXACTLY THE SAME FUNCTIONS IN THE SIX BILLION HUMANS ON EARTH,
HOWEVER NO TWO ARE THE SAME, AND IT IS THIS RANDOM QUALITY
OF NATURE THAT I PARTICULARLY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT.
VARIABLE 1
THESE ITERATIONS WERE PRODUCED USING THE DIVIDE COMPONENT TO MULTIPLY THE NUMBER OF POINTS ALONG EACH CURVE OF THE MODEL. IN DOING SO, THE MODEL HAS THE POTENTIAL TO TRANSFORM FROM A RELATIVELY POROUS STRUCTURE, TO AN IMMENSELY DENSE ENTITY OF INTERWEAVING “TUBES”. BY SPACING AND EFFECTIVELY SINGLING OUT THE MODEL’S KEY GEOMETRIC FEATURE (THE LINE OR PIPE) I AM ABLE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO IT, AND THEREFORE TRANSLATE A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE MODEL, AS WELL AS THE THEME.
VARIABLE 2
THESE FOUR ITERATIONS WERE CREATED BY MODIFYING THE LENGTH OF THE X, Y AND Z VECTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CURVES OF THE MODEL. WHAT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE IS THAT AS THE VECTORS INCREASE IN LENGTH, THE STRUCTURE OF THE MODEL BECOMES LESS CONVOLUTED, WITH MORE OF A SENSE OF ORDER TO ITS SHAPE. BY PRODUCING THESE ITERATIONS, I HOPED TO DEMONSTRATE THE WAY IN WHICH NATURE INCORPORATES BOTH TANGLED RANDOMNESS AND LOGICAL STRUCTURE INTO THE GEOMETRY OF ITS FORMS.
VARIABLE 3
THE FINAL FOUR ITERATIONS WERE PRODUCED THROUGH THE USE OF THE SHIFT
COMPONENT, WHICH OFFSET THE LINES CONNECTING THE POINTS ON EACH CURVE,
RELATIVE TO THEIR ORIGINAL POSITIONS. THIS RESULTED IN DYNAMIC CHANGES TO THE SHAPE OF THE MODEL, AND THROUGH THIS I WAS ABLE TO OUTLINE THE RANDOM AND UNIQUE WAY NATURAL FORMS ARE MADE. WHAT IS AMAZING IS THAT EVERY COMBINATION OF GEOMETRY IN NATURE IS DIFFERENT, AND YET EACH STILL RETAINS A RAW BEAUTY. IT IS THIS POWERFUL COMBINATION OF QUALITIES THAT I BELIEVE HAS MADE THE BRAIN SUCH A SUCCESSFUL SUBJECT FOR EXPERIMENTAL MODELLING.
METHOD AND REFLECTION
TO CREATE MY MODEL I CONSTRUCTED TWO CIRCLES, WHOSE
CIRCUMFERENCES WERE LINED WITH POINTS (USING THE DIVIDE
COMPONENT). THESE POINTS WERE JOINED USING THE LINE COMPONENT,
WHILE X, Y AND Z VECTORS CREATED ITERATIONS OF THE GEOMETRY
WHICH BRANCHED OFF IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. THE SHIFT COMPONENT
WAS PLACED TO CONTROL THE OFFSET OF THE LINES, AND ALL OF THIS
WAS FED INTO A CONE COMPONENT TO GIVE THE MODEL SOME SURFACE
AREA. LASTLY, A PIPE COMPONENT WAS USED TO FLESH OUT THE FORM
OF THE LINES, CREATING THE TUBE-LIKE APPEARANCE OF THE MODEL’S
SURFACE. SLIDERS WERE ATTACHED TO THE VECTOR, DIVIDE AND
SHIFT COMPONENTS TO CREATE EACH VARIABLE.
WHILE CHALLENGING, GRASSHOPPER IS AN EXCITING PROGRAM THAT
OBVIOUSLY HAS ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES WHEN IT COMES TO THE
REALISATION OF ARCHITECTURALLY AMBITIOUS DESIGNS. I FOUND IT
RELATIVELY DIFFICULT TO PICK UP, CONSIDERING ITS ABSTRACT AND
MATHEMATICAL APPROACH, BUT I AM PLEASED WITH THE RESULT I HAVE
ACHIEVED. I BELIEVE MY MODEL IS SUCCESSFUL IN CAPTURING THE
GEOMETRIC ESSENCE OF MY THEME, AND REPRESENTING IT IN A
COHERENT AND VISUALLY APPEALING MANNER. I LOOK FORWARD TO
FURTHER EXPLORING WHAT GRASSHOPPER HAS TO OFFER.
Final 12 Iterations
Through the use of my variables, my final iterations are all dynamically and uniquely shaped. As my model was inspired from nature, I hope my iterations capture the random and beautiful way that organic forms often manifest themselves in. My theme, the human brain, is an organ that performs the same function in the billions of people on the planet, yet structurally no two are the same. It is this unique quality that I have particularly attempted to highlight.
Variable 1 - These iterations were created by modifying the offset of the points around each curve of the model. In doing so, the shape of the model changes dynamically, with parts of the model narrowing or widening relative to others.
Variable 2 - These next four iterations were produced by altering the length of the x, y and z vectors of the model. In doing so, the overall size and shape of the form changed. Also noticeable was the fact that generally as the vectors increased in length, the model took on a more ordered structure.
Variable 3 - These last iterations are the result of modifying the number of points along each curve of the model, and in doing so, the number of "tubes" that are created.
Variable 1 - These iterations were created by modifying the offset of the points around each curve of the model. In doing so, the shape of the model changes dynamically, with parts of the model narrowing or widening relative to others.
Variable 2 - These next four iterations were produced by altering the length of the x, y and z vectors of the model. In doing so, the overall size and shape of the form changed. Also noticeable was the fact that generally as the vectors increased in length, the model took on a more ordered structure.
Variable 3 - These last iterations are the result of modifying the number of points along each curve of the model, and in doing so, the number of "tubes" that are created.
Rough Preliminary Images
These iterations all differ from eachother through the use of variables which control overall size, the shape of each curve, and the number of divisions within each curve. For my final iterations and poster I will try to make these variations as pronounced as possible.
This my final grasshopper model. Two sliders influence the shape of my curves through offsetting the points along them, one slider controls the number of tubes by multiplying the number of points along the curves, and one slider controls the size of the model through altering the x, y and z vectors.
Tutorial Relating To Theme
http://designreform.net/2008/06/grasshopper-david-ruttens-s-shift-tutorial/
This tutorial covers the use of the divide and shift components to multiply the number of points on a curve and rotate vectors. By being able to control the number of points on a curve, I will hopefully be able to create the series of lines/tubes I am aiming for, with the aid of other components such as pipe.
This tutorial covers the use of the divide and shift components to multiply the number of points on a curve and rotate vectors. By being able to control the number of points on a curve, I will hopefully be able to create the series of lines/tubes I am aiming for, with the aid of other components such as pipe.
Theme Research/Additional Images
The Brain:
Source 1:
http://www.news-medical.net/health/Human-Brain-Structure.aspx
This article provides an excellent description of the structure and function of the different regions of the brain, as well as providing informative diagrams. The article highlights two areas of the brain that feature interesting geometrical forms that have potential for use in modelling.
The first is the cerebral cortex (the convoluted outer cellular layer), a sheet of neural tissue that has been folded over and over again to maximise the surface area able to fit into the skull. The second area is the cerebellum, a relatively small region at the base of the brain that plays an important role in motor control and cognitive functions. It has quite a unique form compared to the rest of the brain, with its surface a series of horizontal furrows.
When we look at the form of these two areas, we notice that while they are quite different in many ways, they do share similar geometry when broken down into their first principles. In essence, they are both a series of lines or tubes, weaving and interlocking in a dynamic relationship. It is this theme that I wish to explore in my experiments.
Source 2:
http://www.humanneurophysiology.com/cerebellum.htm
This page provides more detailed information on the structure of the cerebellum, the region of the brain I feel is the most geometrically interesting. "The cerebellar surface is regular and grooved, forming folia (folds). Some of the grooves are particularly deep, forming fissures, which
separate the cerebral mass into lobules". These irregular clusters of interlocking tubes are perfect for the experimental modelling of visually exciting and complex iterations.
This image (http://www.psywww.com/intropsych/ch02_human_nervous_system/cerebellum.html) compares the geometric structure of the cerebellum and the cerebral cortex. While they are different, they both share some of the same basic structural features.
This image (http://www.ganfyd.org/index.php?title=Cerebellum) highlights the complex nature of the cerebellum's structure. Series of parallel lines intersect and weave amongst eachother, forming irregular clumps.
This image (http://www.anatomyatlases.org/atlasofanatomy/plate23/04cerebspinalc.shtml) gives us a closer look at the geometry of the cerebellum, and one can see clearly the way these tube-like structures weave amongst eachother.
Source 1:
http://www.news-medical.net/health/Human-Brain-Structure.aspx
This article provides an excellent description of the structure and function of the different regions of the brain, as well as providing informative diagrams. The article highlights two areas of the brain that feature interesting geometrical forms that have potential for use in modelling.
The first is the cerebral cortex (the convoluted outer cellular layer), a sheet of neural tissue that has been folded over and over again to maximise the surface area able to fit into the skull. The second area is the cerebellum, a relatively small region at the base of the brain that plays an important role in motor control and cognitive functions. It has quite a unique form compared to the rest of the brain, with its surface a series of horizontal furrows.
When we look at the form of these two areas, we notice that while they are quite different in many ways, they do share similar geometry when broken down into their first principles. In essence, they are both a series of lines or tubes, weaving and interlocking in a dynamic relationship. It is this theme that I wish to explore in my experiments.
Source 2:
http://www.humanneurophysiology.com/cerebellum.htm
This page provides more detailed information on the structure of the cerebellum, the region of the brain I feel is the most geometrically interesting. "The cerebellar surface is regular and grooved, forming folia (folds). Some of the grooves are particularly deep, forming fissures, which
separate the cerebral mass into lobules". These irregular clusters of interlocking tubes are perfect for the experimental modelling of visually exciting and complex iterations.
This image (http://www.psywww.com/intropsych/ch02_human_nervous_system/cerebellum.html) compares the geometric structure of the cerebellum and the cerebral cortex. While they are different, they both share some of the same basic structural features.
This image (http://www.ganfyd.org/index.php?title=Cerebellum) highlights the complex nature of the cerebellum's structure. Series of parallel lines intersect and weave amongst eachother, forming irregular clumps.
This image (http://www.anatomyatlases.org/atlasofanatomy/plate23/04cerebspinalc.shtml) gives us a closer look at the geometry of the cerebellum, and one can see clearly the way these tube-like structures weave amongst eachother.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Three Theme Ideas
Nature is an exciting medium to work with. I find it can often have a raw quality and a degree of randomness that human-made structures find hard to match. In this way, nature is often able to produce some extremely dynamic shapes that we can identify, harness and mold to produce our own forms.
Lightning:
Lightning is one of the most visually powerful phenomenon that nature can offer. It has a raw energy that is almost alive, with each strike producing tens, if not hundreds, of interweaving paths of light. A fork of lightning is very similar geometrically to a tree branch, plant roots, or veins, being essentially a system of crisscrossing lines, however I believe its random and volatile nature gives it even more potential for producing interesting forms. The second image is particularly interesting as it shows not only a fractal render of lightning, but what that lightning might look like when morphed with a wave system.
Spider Webs:
I believe spider webs have a lot of potential for producing interesting and powerful iterations. They consist of a series of interconnected lines, boxes and circles that could theoretically expand outwards infinitely. These geometric aspects could be used to produce some amazing forms, such as spirals and intertwining threads (as seen in the second and third image).
Honeycomb:
Honeycomb is another excellent example of a naturally occurring pattern that could be used to effectively produce striking iterations. Its simple yet elegant geometrical structure, that of interconnecting circular or hexagonal cells, could be applied in various ways to create new forms. With a little thought, a simple geometrical aspect can become a dynamic and visually arresting tool, as seen in the bottom two fractal images.
The brain:
The brain is an exciting, geometrically complex form - a true labyrinth of nature. Broken down into its simplest forms, the brain is a series of tubes, but it is the way these tubes interweave and interlock in such a dynamic and seemingly random way that makes the brain such a potential candidate for experimental modelling exploration.
Lightning:
Lightning is one of the most visually powerful phenomenon that nature can offer. It has a raw energy that is almost alive, with each strike producing tens, if not hundreds, of interweaving paths of light. A fork of lightning is very similar geometrically to a tree branch, plant roots, or veins, being essentially a system of crisscrossing lines, however I believe its random and volatile nature gives it even more potential for producing interesting forms. The second image is particularly interesting as it shows not only a fractal render of lightning, but what that lightning might look like when morphed with a wave system.
Spider Webs:
I believe spider webs have a lot of potential for producing interesting and powerful iterations. They consist of a series of interconnected lines, boxes and circles that could theoretically expand outwards infinitely. These geometric aspects could be used to produce some amazing forms, such as spirals and intertwining threads (as seen in the second and third image).
Honeycomb:
Honeycomb is another excellent example of a naturally occurring pattern that could be used to effectively produce striking iterations. Its simple yet elegant geometrical structure, that of interconnecting circular or hexagonal cells, could be applied in various ways to create new forms. With a little thought, a simple geometrical aspect can become a dynamic and visually arresting tool, as seen in the bottom two fractal images.
The brain:
The brain is an exciting, geometrically complex form - a true labyrinth of nature. Broken down into its simplest forms, the brain is a series of tubes, but it is the way these tubes interweave and interlock in such a dynamic and seemingly random way that makes the brain such a potential candidate for experimental modelling exploration.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)