“Water is fluid, soft, and yielding. But water will wear away rock, which is rigid and cannot yield. As a rule, whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. This is another paradox: what is soft is strong.” ― Lao Tzu. (Goodreads, 2012)

Much like the quote above by Lao Tzu, this model, made by Nikolai Scott at the University of Victoria in 2012, compares the hierarchy between fluidity and rigidity. The structures essence has been derived from the two precedent images shown; an angular sculpture constructed from triangular and rectangular shapes (left) and the dark, elegant, swirling currents that form smoke in the second precedent image (right). By combining the images and their design principles, such as rhythm and contrast, this model has been born.The model has been constructed using multiple, individual, triangular pieces of vellum paper that are closely placed next to one another to show a stunning contrast between the shapes. The Vellum pieces are attached, pinched together, then joint, to sit upon, what looks to be, a pedestal of rigid, angular shaped wire. The vellum parts have then been pulled down over one another by a, thin, black cotton thread, that contrasts against the opaque white of the vellum. This transforms the structure, that would otherwise have looked similar to the sydney opera house, into a strong and beautiful, fluid form. The model was built to show and achieve a control between contrasting elements (The curve and the straight line) and also the underlying geometric forms that give fluidity its strength.

             Shot one of final model.

                  Shot two of final model.

References:

GoodReads. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/show/365687