Gabriele Meyer
I like to crochet hyperbolic surfaces. They are the intersection of my
professional life as a mathematics lecturer and my art hobby.
Non-flat surfaces have always presented a technical challenge, yet the
most beautiful architecture and sculpture often involve such
surfaces.
Hyperbolic surfaces can be naturally achieved by hyperbolic crocheting
around shaped plastic line. This was my contribution to the area. The
plastic line introduces the tension which makes the surfaces curve in
three dimensional space. Its thickness also determines the size of the
hyperbolic curves generated. My surfaces are large and best hung from
the ceiling to preserve their integrity.
This object started as a hollow ovoid, top and bottom missing. I
then crocheted three vertical axes down the sides. These three
axes are the basis for the hyperbolic crochet. The object is hung
from the ceiling.
I then entered a light tube. The photograph was taken in the dark
without flash.
This is the same algae as above, hanging off the ceiling. This time I placed a bendable light tube into the hollow cone at the center of the algae and photographed in the dark without flash. The hyperbolic crochet had holes thus creating interesting light patterns on the ceiling .