Artists
Söhnke Vetter
Designer
University of the Arts Bremen
Bremen, Germany
Statement
In my designs, I use geometric principles and phenomena as defining and functional elements. I am interested in how structure, material, and force relations shape not only the appearance but also the usability of an object. I explore constructive approaches where formal clarity and structural logic interlock. Through experimentation, digital and physical modeling, and craftsmanship, I bring my ideas into tangible reality. My goal is to create objects that evoke both insight and fascination.
Artworks
"Tetak" is a suspended tensegrity structure composed of 120 steel rods and an elastic tension network. The rods are arranged in a semi-regular configuration, never touching each other, stabilized solely by the pre-stressed tensile elements. External forces set all components into motion, yet the equilibrium of compressive and tensile forces remains intact. The structure follows an ordered spatial arrangement that ensures efficient force distribution while maintaining the characteristic independence of compression and tension elements in tensegrity systems.
This tensegrity structure combines an interwoven rod system with an external tensile network. The wooden rods pass through the center, aligned so that they do not cross and can move past each other unimpeded. Their arrangement creates a distinct spatial framework with well-defined trajectories. The surrounding rubber bands form a taut enclosure reminiscent of the geometry of a rhombicosidodecahedron. The interaction between penetrating rods and the tensioned network gives the structure both stability and a striking presence.