Phillip C. Reiner

Head of Advanced Geometries Department
Studio Olafur Eliasson
Berlin

The Advanced Geometries Department of Studio Olafur Eliasson explores geometric, physical and natural phenomena in order to develop concepts and ideas for works of art.

Kaleidosphere
Kaleidosphere
40 x 40 x 40 cm
Stainless steel, 3d printed resin
2019

The Kaleidosphere is a prototype and an example of a broader study of models. A larger set of polyhedrons was grouped by their underlying (tetrahedral, octahedral or icosahedral) symmetry group and dissected with the corresponding planes. The resulting tetrahedral spherical arranged sections where merged — here with two of their neighbours into larger groups of four. In each of the resulting parts locations a different polyhedral section was kept. Mirroring surfaces in between those sections complete the only partially physical geometry. In order to maintain the correct image the polysurfaces had to be displaced from the overall center. The mirrors themselves where cut by a corresponding polyhedron of the underlying symmetry group.