A Galaxy of Perception


My name is Amanda-Marie Thomas and I am a 4th Year Architectural Studies student. I have just returned from a sixteen-month Co-operative Education Work term in which case I am eager to apply my newly acquired experience and knowledge to my continued studies in the field of Architecture.

The sculpture that I have selected for analysis is "Galaxy" by Honda Syoryo.


Galaxy as Sculpture


This sculpture is comprised of bamboo and rattan that have been woven together using an openwork twining technique. Through the use of materiality and the basket weaving technique, a strong dialogue exists between structural rigidity required to sustain a fluid and seemingly evolving art piece. Furthermore, the dialogue between structure and fluidity occurs through the use of a predictable orthogonal weaving pattern and how it has been manipulated to create a non-uniform and inconsistent sculpture. This piece truly identifies with its sculpture quality as in entices the viewer to explore the varied conditions within its mass; including the depths and inhabitable spaces. The translucency of "Galaxy" also provides the sculpture with a sense of delicacy meanwhile its bulbous outreach demands presence.


Galaxy as Galaxy


As noted above, the dialogue between solid structure and translucent, fluid chaos speaks to the concept of "Galaxy". Galaxies are opportunities to understand space through a variety of layers. The masses within that space help one to understand voids as an all-encompassing concept. The use of openwork twining allows space to be framed through each an every square, emphasizing the relationship to galaxies that: it is the vantage point from which you view that is most informative to the overall composition. Both the concept and the form call for an interactive approach where you discover through maneuvering and rotating to gain a greater understanding of what the eye is perceiving.


Galaxy as Architect


Lastly, as an student in the field of Architecture, I was intrigued by how "Galaxy" speaks to the design profession as a whole. As Architects, the consistency of the profession calls one to marry a conceptual idea of spatial experience to a technically feasible means of construction. I find "Galaxy" inspiring in this consideration as it encourages one to explore beyond the current boundaries of materiality and discover alternative applications to service that conceptual experience.