Artists Space

Architecture and Design Project Series:
H_edge
Arup Advance Geometry Unit

September 14 – October 28, 2006

Curated by Christian Rattemeyer

H-edge is a new project created by Cecil Balmond and the Arup Advanced Geometry Unit, a think tank dedicated to researching complex structural geometry in support of new architectural visions and solutions. Arup Advance Geometry Unit’s installation at Artists Space will function as an enclosure within the gallery, allowing visitors the opportunity to experience, interact with, and compartmentalize physical space in new and exciting ways.

A black and white digital rendering of rows of curved, x-shaped cutouts suspended from lengths of metal chainlinks. The rows of cutouts overlap, forming dense layers. A human shadow is cast over the cutouts, as if a viewer is standing in front of the installation.
[A black and white digital rendering of rows of curved, x-shaped cutouts suspended from lengths of metal chainlinks. The rows of cutouts overlap, forming dense layers. A human shadow is cast over the cutouts, as if a viewer is standing in front of the installation.]

Opening Reception: September 14, 6 - 8 pm

H-edge is a new project created by Cecil Balmond and the Arup Advanced Geometry Unit, a think tank dedicated to researching complex structural geometry in support of new architectural visions and solutions. H-edge is an experiment in the use of geometry and modular materials to create new organizations of space.

AGU’s installation at Artists Space will function as an enclosure within the gallery, allowing visitors the opportunity to experience, interact with, and compartmentalize physical space in new and exciting ways. H-edge is aimed at traversing the boundaries of mathematics, art, architecture and engineering, exploring new opportunities of complexity. In addition to the three-dimensional installation H_edge, the exhibition also includes the wall piece Fourier Carpet, for which a computational design was woven into a wallhanging on a Jacquard loom.

H_edge has been designed in London and constructed in Philadelphia with the help of Penn Design students. It consists of 5200 laser-cut aluminum plates and almost 5000ft of stainless steel chain.

Fourier Carpet has been digitally generated and designed by Jenny E. Sabin in Philadelphia and woven on a digitized Jacquard loom by Keystone Weaving in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. It is 36ft by 5ft and is composed of interlaced black and white wool threads.

A series of metal cutouts shaped like curved "x"
H_edge. Installation view, Artists Space, 2006. Photo: Whitney Cox. [A series of metal cutouts shaped like curved "x"'s hang on lengths of metal chainlinks in a gallery space. The rows of cutouts overlap, forming a hedge-like sculptural body. A gallery hallway decorated with vinyl reading "ARTISTS SPACE" is visible through the overlapping cutouts.]
Close-up of a series of metal cutouts shaped like curved "x"
H_edge. Installation view, Artists Space, 2006. Photo: Whitney Cox. [Close-up of a series of metal cutouts shaped like curved "x"'s hanging from lengths of metal chainlinks. The many rows of cutouts overlap, forming a hedge-like sculptural body.]
A large gallery space full of hundreds of metal cutouts shaped like curved "x"
H_edge. Installation view, Artists Space, 2006. Photo: Whitney Cox. [A large gallery space full of hundreds of metal cutouts shaped like curved "x"'s hanging from lengths of metal chainlinks. The cutouts are arranged in the gallery so that they form a hedge-like landscape of varying heights.]
A large gallery space full of hundreds of metal cutouts shaped like curved "x"
H_edge. Installation view, Artists Space, 2006. Photo: Whitney Cox. [A large gallery space full of hundreds of metal cutouts shaped like curved "x"'s hanging from lengths of metal chainlinks. The cutouts are arranged in the gallery so that they form a hedge-like landscape of varying heights.]
A large gallery space full of hundreds of metal cutouts shaped like curved "x"
H_edge. Installation view, Artists Space, 2006. Photo: Whitney Cox. [A large gallery space full of hundreds of metal cutouts shaped like curved "x"'s hanging from lengths of metal chainlinks. The cutouts are arranged in the gallery so that they form a hedge-like landscape of varying heights. Visible through the cutouts is a black and gray composition installed on a gallery wall.]

H_edge is supported, in part, by ARUP, the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts, Elise Jaffe + Jeffery Brown, and PennDesign.

    A digitially generated image of a series of curved, x-shaped cutouts stacked one on top of the other in long rows. The rows are clustered around white text that reads
    [A digitially generated image of a series of curved, x-shaped cutouts stacked one on top of the other in long rows. The rows are clustered around white text that reads "h-edge." The shadows of the cutouts are visible on the ground directly below the text.]