LADY FERN EFFECT
SPATIAL INSTALLATION
Material: Optical fibres
The project „Lady Fern Effect“ draws inspiration from the growth patterns of the lady fern. The fractal phenomena – self-similarity, recursion, and infinity – form the core concept of this work.
The installation aims to translate the fractal principle into design language in order to construct a structure. This method utilises the light conductivity properties of optical fibre to gain an insight into the concept of infinity. In the project fractals’ infinity is represented not only through repetitiveness within the structure, but also through a deeper perception of light-transmission in space. The direction of the optical fibre structure influences the orientation of light-transmission. The transmissibility performance differs from the core strings to the curved fibres on the sides, as well as from the main branches to the sub-branches. Even if capturing such subtle light might be difficult to the naked eye, its existence is eternal.
The spatial installation explores the transmission and expression of light in a structure. Its functionality brings the outside light to a contained space. „Lady Fern Effect“ immerses the viewer in various forms of infinity – both present within the structure and the transmission of light.
Bio-inspiration
Lady Fern‘s leaflets. Each frond is bipinnate with 12-24 pairs of leaflets, called „Pinna.“ The larger leaflets have 15 or more pairs of sub-leaflets, which are called „Pinnule.“ The growth pattern of lady fern is based on the repetition of the bipinnate form in different scale, also known as fractal.
Fractals in the structure
Self-similarity, Recursion, and Infinity
The Adalaj stepwell of the Solanki style of architecture in India revealed to me a way to apply fractal in a structure. The principle can be seen from the front view, as well as from the side where hierarchical arrangement can be observed. The structure repeats itself and so it grows.
A photograph depicting an illusion made with mirror and door was of further inspiration, illustrating the application of the infinity concept.
Both the stepwell and the photograph create infinity in a space.
Material - optical fibres Ø 0.7mm
The propagation of light through the core of an optical fibre is based on the total internal reflection of the lightwave. This is called diffuse-reflection or scattering and it is typically characterised by wide variety of reflection angles.
The light-transmissibility of the optical fibres structure is notably higher. In this instance the light transmits well through the core strings and the sub-branch cores; less so through the curvature frame on the side.
Light transmission and infinity
In „Lady Fern Effect“, I explored the relation between light transmission and structural composition. The light propagation functions effectively in the optical fibres structure, however the brightness in the smaller segments is strongly influenced by the structural pattern.
The notion that light particles transmit infinitely in the installation space made me further consider the viewer’s perception and perspective.
At the current development state, I learned that the brightest segments occur mainly at the core strings, which form the bigger curvature frame and control the directional property. Further exploration will focus on the variation of the shape parameter, which influences light propagation.
"LADY FERN EFFECT" is an architectural spatial installation.
This project is in Weißensee Kunsthochschule Berlin TFD, Scaling Nature (3) - Growth.