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"Art, Math, and Sculpture" | |
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Abstract: The roles of computers, multi-media, virtual environments, and rapid prototyping in the design of abstract geometrical sculptures are explored. The techniques described in this paper are the outgrowth of a six-year collaboration between Brent Collins, a wood sculptor, and Carlo Séquin, a computer scientist. They are particularly applicable to abstract geometrical sculptures, where precisely defined and highly optimized shapes follow a clear underlying logic. The use of these techniques has resulted in several sculpture families, represented by virtual displays, many small physical maquettes, by a few larger wood and bronze sculptures, and recently a 12-foot snow sculpture. Bio: Carlo Séquin is a professor of Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley. He received his Ph.D. degree in experimental physics from the University of Basel, Switzerland, in 1969. His subsequent work at the Institute of Applied Physics in Basel concerned interface physics of MOS transistors and problems of applied electronics in the field of cybernetic models. From 1970 to 1976, he worked at Bell Telephone Laboratories, Murray Hill, N.J., on the design and investigation of Charge-Coupled Devices for imaging and signal processing applications. At Bell Labs, he was introduced to the world of Computer Graphics in classes given by Ken Knowlton. In 1977, he joined the faculty in the EECS Department at Berkeley. He started out by teaching courses on the subject of very large-scale integrated (VLSI) circuits, thereby trying to build a bridge between the CS division and the EE faculty. In the early 1980's, jointly with D. Patterson, he introduced the "RISC" concept to the world of microcomputers. He was head of the Computer Science Division from 1980 to 1983. Since then, he has concentrated on computer graphics, geometric modeling, and on the development of computer-aided design (CAD) tools for circuit designers, architects, and for mechanical engineers. During the last five years, he has collaborated with P. Wright in Mechanical Engineering on the CyberCut/CyberBuild project with the goal to streamline the path from creative design to rapid prototyping. Séquin's work in computer graphics and in geometric design have also provided a bridge to the world of art. In collaboration with a few sculptors of abstract geometric art, in particular with Brent Collins, Sequin has found a new interest and yet another domain where the use of computer-aided tools can be explored and where new frontiers can be opened through the use of such tools. Dr. Séquin is a Fellow of the ACM, a Fellow of the IEEE, and has been elected to the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences. KEYWORDS: sculpture design, procedural modeling, rapid prototyping. Refreshments will be served. |
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