OPTIC PUFFS

2010

Optic Puffs was developed for an exhibition in Barcelona, Spain. It deals specifically with the ecology of visual perception, how human sight understands depth and movement.

An armature based on the projective theorems of 17th century geometer Girard Desargues established the initial geometry. This armature regulates two key aspects of the form. Firstly, it assures that all faces are flat, inside and out, as they are all point projections of each other. This allows the construction to be built from flat material. Secondly, it facilitates a wide range of prismatic figures, the points can be manipulated and akin to a marionette, the prism will resolve itself within the constraints of the armature. This process is one of the conceptual forerunners of contemporary digital parametric design.

The patterns of apertures that move through the planes of the structure are controlled by these projective alignments. This produces moments on all six sides of the object that are completely transparent as the apertures line up. There are also simultaneously moments where the apertures do not visually line up and thus capture and diffuse light as it comes into the interior of the structure. This difference causes one to continually move around the object in a play of optical pleasure.