Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Hubert Duprat





Another charming study in hybridity today is the caddis-man-gold-case. Intervening in the natural metamorphosis of the caddis fly larva (Trichoptera), Hubert Duprat introduces precious and semi-precious materials into the environment. The larvae incorporate these materials into their sheaths or cocoons. Imagine, a bachelor pad made of gold flakes and pearls.

Check out the video on Cabinet magazine's website.

Duprat cites the work of 19th century entomologists François-Jules Pictet and Jean-Henri Fabre.

Math Can be Fun


Being idle at work, I've come across a fun math site run by Dr. Sarah-Marie Belcastro. She's found a rather winning formula in developing a hybrid practice between expert research and casual hobby. The result: Topological mathematics and the fibre-arts. Check it, instead of mere beanies, you can don a moebius strip or klein bottle on your head.

This should have much relevance for architects out there involved in found geometries looking to move out of an abstract and simulationist mode, ready to engage the cultural consequence of their formal studies. Knitted, mathematically generated architecture.

p.s. she also collects mathematicians....