:: The MATERIALS

First of all we have to find a proper material for building the sculptures – a kind of paper which is flexible enough to fold, stable enough to stay in a folded position and water resistant enough for outdoor use. Furthermore, the paper has to be the proper size because a very special thing about Origami is that an object is folded out of one single piece of material. We have found our solution in a special PVC paper, 0.2mm thick, 1.41g/cm3 weight and sold in 140x100cm sizes.

The glowing outlines come from an electroluminescent wire. This is a special wire containing phosphor, which illuminates if given electricity. Color and brightness depend on the frequency and voltage. These wires can be bought in different colors, different thicknesses and in nearly any length. We chose the 3mm (diameter) outdoor version in “ice-blue”. Additionally we needed several inverters, adapters, battery packs and some soldering skills to make them finally glow.

Used materials: EL wires, battery packs, inverters, adapters and the paper.

:: ORIGAMI FOLDING

Origami (折り紙^?, from ori meaning “folding”, and kami meaning “paper”; kami changes to gami due to rendaku) is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding which started (at the latest) in the 17th century AD and was popularized outside Japan in the mid-1900s. It has since then evolved into a modern art form. The goal of this art is to transform a single flat sheet of paper into a finished sculpture through folding and sculpting techniques.

The number of basic origami folds is small, but they can be combined in a variety of ways to make intricate designs. The best known origami model is probably the Japanese paper crane. The principles of origami are also being used in stents, packaging and other engineering structures.

First we had to make many small models to become accustomed to origami technique and understand how to scale the models to create life-size sculptures. Under the same principles, we were then able to fold these big and unique Origami sculptures.

Folding, folding, folding,…

Paper everywhere in the studio… Franzi – our Grand Master of Origami – presenting: “The Bambi”.

:: Illumination / El Wire

After the folding procedure was completed, we could start concentrating on the illumination. Different lengths of wire need different inverters for illuminating in the same way (concerning color temperature and brightness). OK! You need maths in real life  ; – )

Testing and experimenting with the effect of the EL wire on the visual appearance of the sculptures. Finding out which edges should be highlighted and which can be or should be disregarded.

And finally stick the wire on the paper with special glue… Watch out for your fingers – this glue is super fast-drying and super strong!

POWER ON! The very first sculptures illuminated. EL WIRE ROCKS, ORIGAMI ROCKS! We think it was worth all the hard work. What about you?

:: TENSOR EXTENSIONS

Tensor is a quiet open concept.  It’s a structure that is strong, beautiful, efficient and flexible. Several extensions in different fields are thinkable.  It could be also used as furniture or interior or even as toys for children or as jewellery …

:: TENSOR JEWELLERY

Teaming up with Atelier Alexa we explored the potential of  Tensor in the field of jewellery. By Rapid prototyping technology we produced some unique pieces and presented them next to the sculpture at the Sound:Frame Festival 2010. Used materials for the prototypes are silver, quartz and leather.

Renderings of the collection by Atelier Alexa

Chain

Tetra Ring

Dode Ring

Cufflings

Earings

:: TENSOR @ Soundframe Festival 2010

For the 4th time the Sound:Frame Festival took place in Vienna. Nowadays it’s one of the best known audiovisual festivals in europe.  The international network became stronger and bigger over the years. 2008 it was voted for “Best VJ Event 2008″ by the british Dj magazine “DJ Mag” . The festival offers exhibitions, performances, workshops and lectures under this years topic “Dimensions”.

The Sound:Frame Festival gave us the possibility to set the Tensor on stage for the very first time. 

:: FESTIVAL FACTS

• 27.03. – 18.04.2010
• Wednesday to Sunday; 18:00 – 21:00
• Vernissage: 27.04.2010
• Kasulke (Liniengasse 15; 1060 Vienna)

Kasulke was the home of the Tensor for approx. 1 month. Special Thanks to Felix Schobert for his hospitality!

All pictures taken at the vernissage eve on 27th of April 2010.

Next to the sculptur the jewellery was presented. We created a promo video and showed the protoypes in a light table.

TENSOR in action... Photo by Franz Piffl.

Patterns and structures were projected. The visual fits like a second skin on the sculpture. Photo by Maria Porsch.

Reinterpretation of MOTIONLAB's "Origami Trash". Photo by Maria Porsch.

Mapping technology allows to create optical effects like light inside the structure. Photo by Maria Porsch.

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Test Test

:: Theoretical Background

Tensor goes back to the Weaire–Phelan structure, which is a complex 3-dimensional structure representing an idealised foam of equal-sized bubbles. In 1993 Denis Weaire and Robert Phelan, two physicists based at Trinity College Dublin, found that in computer simulations of foam, this structure was a better solution of the “Kelvin problem” than the previous best-known solution, the Kelvin structure.

The Weaire–Phelan structure differs from Kelvin’s in that it uses two kinds of cells, though they both have equal volume.

One is an irregular dodecahedron with pentagonal faces, possessing tetrahedral symmetry (Th).
Tetrakaidecahedron

The second is a tetrakaidecahedron with two hexagonal and twelve pentagonal faces possessing antiprismatic symmetry (D2v). (This figure is also called a tetradecahedron; this article uses Weaire and Phelan’s name.)

Like the hexagons in the Kelvin structure, the pentagons in both types of cells are slight ly curved. The surface area of the Weaire–Phelan structure is 0.3% less than that of the Kelvin structure. It has not been proved that the Weaire–Phelan structure is optimal, but as of 2009 no better structure has been found.

:: Construction

By unwrapping a 3 dimeonsional object, you can get a 2 dimensional cut-pattern. We use a kind of polyethylene material and bring the plastic boards by laser-cut technology in shape. Franz Piffl’s turn starts here.

After that you get a well cut pattern with buckling edges. 2 boards were needed to get one object.

Several tests concerning the connection within one object and between two objects were needed before we decided to use special adhesive tape.

After uncounted amount of working hours our first Tensor armada was finished!

:: Tensor 48 11’33.67″ N / 16 20’44.00″ E

The first configuration of the Tensor was made for the Sound:Frame festival 2010. The coordinates in the name of the artwork defines the place/location, where it is standing. In our case defines that a certain configuration/structure of the objects.