Briony Thomas

Lecturer in Design Theory
School of Design, University of Leeds
UK

As a designer I am fascinated by the fundamental concept of symmetry and its varied interdisciplinary applications. This recent work explores the possibilities of patterns repeating in three-dimensions, around the faces of mathematical solids.

Reidun #5
Reidun #5
300 x 300 mm
Painted and etched hardboard
2010

This design was developed from biological imagery sourced during an investigation into virus structures. Inspired largely by the work of Reidun Twarock, who proposed a novel approach to virus capsid structure based on tiling theory, the tile originally formed a component of the patterned rhombic triacontahedron Reidun #4, and has been manipulated to form a p6m tessellation.

Reidun #4
Reidun #4
300 x 300 mm
Painted and etched wood composite
2010

This piece was created through manipulation of the virology-inspired tiling used in the patterned rhombic triacontahedron Reidun #1, shown at the Bridges Art exhibit in Pécs 2010. Inspired by a novel approach to the description of viral capsid assembly proposed by Reidun Twarock, the faces of this rhombic triacontahedron are tessellated with kites, darts and rhombs. The Islamic-inspired design was developed from biological imagery, which is reminiscent of Islamic interlace patterns. The tiling has been manipulated in the plane to form a p6m repeating design.