Curatorial

Lucent Cadence

‘Lucent Cadence’ is a design exploration into fluid form. It is made up of a sheet of polypropylene and wire mesh held in place with black thread. ‘Cadence’ is described as the rhythmic flow of a sequence of sounds or words. (http://dictionary.reference.com/ ) In the same way that languages have various cadences this form takes on different personalities under different lights. Light can be used to accent the sharp metal, provide a soft glow behind the matte polypropylene or to create a whole new form in the shadows.

The underlying form of ‘Lucent Cadence’ is based on the ‘whiplash’ curve, a popular design motif used in the Art Nouveau style. William Hardy observed that “The essence of Art Nouveau is a line, a sinuous extended curve found in every design of this style,”(1997, p. 8) An example of such curves can be seen in the staircase railing in the ‘Petit Palais’ one of the precedent images for this form. The curves present in ‘Lucent Cadence’ as less exuberant than this to show the calm fluidity of the form rather than writhing excitement.

Lines of string converge slightly but are cut short before they can meet, in the same way that the pyramid form in Civic Square, the second precedent image for this form, is disjointed leaving two vertices leaning towards each other but not touching. The straight lines act as restraints. They hold the material to its curve and act to contain the entire form. 

Reference List

Hardy, W. (1997). A Guide to Art Nouveau Style. London, England: Grange Books.

[Photograph of Petit Palais]. (2009). Retrieved May 8^th, 2012, from http://www.evadesigns.com/architecture/stairway-to-heaven.html

[Photograph of Civic Square]. (2006). Retrieved May 8^th, 2012, from http://dlfiris.wordpress.com/category/jisook-moon/

Precedent Images: