INTRODUCTION
Homage to Function is a new project, and as such, one that is being refined and developed by YOU. The premise of the project is to look to industrial monolithic structures as references in the creation of constructed sculptures. Finding beauty in purpose-built engineered structures requires an understanding of how form follows function. When creating the structures, their builders often reduced the forms and volumes to the minimum, in order to serve the required function.
The notion of form following function is ever-present in nature, as all living things – and in fact the geology of the earth itself – are based upon this construct. Artistic interpretation is fundamentally derived from nature. Thus, unconsciously, our sense of form is heavily influenced by function.
Reference for this project comes from the photographic works of Hilla and Bernd Becher. These German artists documented structures all across Europe and North America. They found a language in these volumes, and presented them as collections in black and white. Much like the amazing variety of forms found in diatoms (below), their photos – of water towers, coal tills, grain silos, refineries, mine hoists, and more – represent the ingenuity and necessity of reducing a structure to its essentials.
These images show some of the diversity of diatoms. This is but a fraction of the types and forms found all over the earth.
These microscopic life forms come in an unimaginable range of shapes, all of which serve to contain the living creature and allow it to survive.
Each design element is optimized, serving a purpose that we may not understand, but which has influenced its evolution.
Snowflakes likewise can be categorized by features that show similarities and differences. Although diatoms are living forms, snowflakes are crystals. What they have in common is diversity, which is a natural trait of complex systems. Snowflake diversity is becoming very well understood, and one researcher, Dr Ken Libbrecht, can control the most minute features to grow whatever shape he likes, including essentially identical snowflakes:
In nature and in human endeavors, why are there so many different approaches to the same problem? That is nature in a nutshell. In fact, nutshells themselves come in innumerable shapes. Essentially, there is no one best way to do anything. There are terrible ways, good ways, great ways, and brilliant ways... but each must be tested. The most successful forms stand the test of time. One of the most compelling arguments that life in the universe may have similar attributes to life on earth is that even here, the same natural solutions have emerged independently over and over.
Artistic reference can come from anywhere, and any experience. In this project we look to human made constructions because they inform us that we are as much a part of nature as everything is. We are not separate, nor is there any evidence that we came from anything but nature.
Endoskeleton, exoskeleton: many living creatures construct themselves with rigid structures that support their mass, allow themselves to move about, and offer protection to vital organs. This can be achieved by building a skeleton either on the inside or outside of the body. In a similar way, many of the structures illustrated by the Bechers hold internal workings that are hidden and mysterious. At other times these workings are completely exposed on the outside, and indeed make up the entire form.
It is your job to imply function in the forms you create. It is important only as a point of departure, so that you can delve deeply into the volumes, masses, shapes, angles, proportions, elements, textures, materials, symmetry, color, and interconnections that make up your piece.