David H Press

Statement

I am dedicated to fully exploring the possibilities of three-dimensional shapes formed from straight lines. The S and H stringing patterns from an article in Hyperseeing Magazine recently stood out. S is the Standard top to bottom and bottom to top stringing used by artist Naum Gabo. H stands for Hyperbolic paraboloid, the same pattern used 100 plus years ago by mathematicians to demonstrate the double-ruled hyperbolic paraboloid surface. My first entry is a group of acrylic pieces demonstrating patterns S, H, S+H and H+S. My second entry is a wood mobile which uses the H+S pattern but stretches it out in space and uses it twice. In addition to its tensegrity, it adds an off-center center of gravity.

Artworks

This mobile was inspired by my recent work with laser cut acrylic pieces. I replicated the H and S stringing patterns from one model twice to create a tensegrity mobile in two topologically equivalent sections. Note that each H section (the silver Lurex) is doubly ruled as are the 150 year old mathematicians models that the H pattern follows. I added weights to move the center of gravity horizontally. String sculptures like this were used by mathematicians as early as the 1790’s. For a closer look at the history, check the references section at www.stringsculpture.com, my site dedicated to the work of mathematicians and artists.

This is a group of four laser cut models using the H, S, H+S, and S+H stringing patterns from my article on stringing patterns that was published by Hyperseeing Magazine in 2010. In recent ruled surface models, these patterns were visually the most interesting and inspired my other entry as I returned to working in wood this year to produce the off-balance tensegrity mobile. These models are part of a larger set featured on www.davidpressdesigns.com that began their development a few years ago for a Museum of Mathematics event. Copies of the Hyperseeing article will be available at Bridges 2024 as well as on my website.