The Cymatic Order | Art Installation
Cymatics Everything gives out a sound or vibration when excited. The generic term for the patterns of vibration that occur on the surface of an object when excited by an incident sound is ‘modal phenomena’. A field of study that covers everything from vibrations in suspension bridges, to vibrations in body parts of cars, to the effects of sound on the human skeleton and internal organs. In the 1970’s this branch of science was named ‘cymatics’ by Swiss doctor Hans Jenny and since then a variety of scientific and artistic explorations have taken place. Imagine one could use sound to bring matter to life and in turn create form, this is the basis for my proposal. The scientific basis for the Cymatic interferance patterns is a subset of modal phenomena -Standing waves. In physics, a standing wave – also known as a stationary wave – is a wave that remains in a constant position. This phenomenon can occur because the medium is moving in the opposite direction to the wave, or it can arise in a stationary medium as a result of interference between two waves travelling in opposite directions. In the second case, for waves of equal amplitude travelling in opposing directions, there is on average no net propagation of energy. In a resonator, or in the cases investigated later on, standing waves occur during the phenomenon known as resonance.
Toby Plunkett | DS10 Cymatic System
1 | Evan Grant Cymatics Photography 2 | Evan Grant Cymatics Photography 3 | Evan Grant Cymatics Photography 4 | Evan Grant Cymatics Photography 5 | Evan Grant Cymatics Photography
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Cymascope The CymaScope is a type of scientific instrument that makes sound visible. The surface tension of water has high flexibility and fast response to imposed vibrations, even with transients as short-lived as a few milliseconds. Therefore, water is able to translate many of the sinusoidal periodicities - in a given sound sample - into physical sinusoidal structures on the water’s surface. Current limits to imprinting sound on water occur in the higher harmonics and are due mainly to there being insufficient energy available in this area of the audio spectrum to cause excursions of the surface tension membrane - Thus it is much easier visualising the lower frequency spectrum. In some cases the sinusoidal structures created on the surface tension are visible beneath the water’s surface, providing partial 3D geometrical data. These surface and sub-surface structures can readily be made visible to the naked eye by the application of a light source arranged above the water’s surface. Capturing the imprints, known as CymaGlyphs, is achieved by means of a conventional digital camera or camcorder arranged vertically downward toward the water and coaxial with it. These can be recreated digitally with the following equation:
2aCos(wt ) Sin(xy)
Speaker w/ Petri Dish and Water
Audio Amplifier
Frequency Generator (In the form of an app)
Only the pattern associated with the fundamental frequency can be predicted with any degree of certainty. Mathematical modelling of the modes of vibration of a € circular membrane currently contain only such factors as shape and elasticity of the materials; the mathematics either describe a fixed boundary condition, in the case of a drum, or a single central fixing and a free edge in the case of a circular Chladni plate. Bessel functions and the wave equation are employed to define a finite number of normal modes, based on the natural resonances of the membrane or plate.
http://bit.ly/CymascopeFrequency
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1 | Cymascope Experiment Equipment
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The classical view of modal phenomena is that modal patterns form as a consequence of the natural resonant frequencies, or modes, of the object or membrane; current mathematical techniques used to describe this class of phenomena say nothing about the quality of the exciting sound. Musical sounds contain many harmonics so when a circular membrane is excited by a complex musical sound the resulting modal pattern(s) are, naturally, also complex. If we sample a moment from music and analyze it in terms of its fundamental frequency and associated harmonics, and then apply that sample to, a circular membrane of water - Such as the experiements shown on hese spread - present mathematical techniques cannot predict what pattern will form on the membrane. Water is free to move at the circular boundary and across its entire surface area. In addition, water responds not only to its normal modes but to any audible frequency imposed on it as such all the primary periodicities in a given audible sound or in a given sample of music are rendered visible. The resulting patterns can be considered as analogs of the sound or music since the geometry in the resulting patterns is a function of the periodicities within the exciting sound.
Frequency Spectrum: Low
Medium
High
http://bit.ly/CymascopeMusic
Toby Plunkett | DS10 Cymatic System
1 | Experiment Set-Up 2 | Yumeji’s Theme Screenshots
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3 | SBTRKT Screenshots 4 | Experiment Set-Up
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Cymatic Order By taking these physical experiments and translating them into a digital medium I am able to generate forms from various standing wave intersections. Using multiple nodes as sources to emit every day sound sources, complex and detailed geometry is formed. The geometry is then transformed from a planar surface into a three dimensional form in the form of a piloti. By using sound as an aesthetical device in creating piloti, I aim to further the established column orders, using todays parametric technology to further expand our attachment to the surrounding environment via everyday sound.
Single Node Wave
Two Node Wave
Triple Node Wave
Isometric Triple Node Wave
Isometric Warped Triple Node Wave
Isometric Circular Triple Node Wave
Toby Plunkett | DS10 Cymatic Proposal
1-6 | Development from System to Form
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7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 16 7-16 | Examples of a new Cymatic Column Order
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Proposals My proposal shows the instilation within a variety of pre existing spaces however, its application is practically universal and so can be easily implemented in any other avaiulable spaces also. The proposal consists of a series of piloti of which the forms have been generated through exploration models and further research into the science which is Cymatics. As such the piloti are generated from various sounds present in our immediate environment, which in turn have been manipulated to these complex and beautiful forms.
Toby Plunkett | DS10 Cymatic Proposal
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Toby Plunkett | DS10 Cymatic Proposal
1 | Buro Happold London Offices 2 | Buro Happold London Offices
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3 | Bang & Olufsen Flagship London Store 4 | Bang & Olufsen Flagship London Store
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Manufacture The proposed manufacturing method consists of an on site and in-situ 3D printing process. As such the piloti will not be the only subject on display, the new age manufacturing process will also. The various sections will be printed throughout the working day before being relocated and installed. The proposal is not just a new order of columns, generated from sound itself - representing sound in a physical entity. But a semi-interactive art installation, the manufacturing process is that of a state of the art 3D printer, which will become as much as a part of the installation as the finished piece - installed within the store during manufacture, guests will be able to witness the creation. Tube lighting or LED strips will stand within the pilotis, lighting them internally. Comparing the lit and unlit forms generates an interesting contrast, adding a sense of evolution to the pilotis throughout their display. All of the electronics and required structural fixings will be implemented into a base within the window cavity, creating a clean and eloquent system hidden from viewers.
Toby Plunkett | DS10 Cymatic Proposal
1 | 3D Printed Components 2 | Construction Model ‘Daytime’ 3 | Contruction Model ‘Night-time’ 4 | Hypecask Delta Tower
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5 | ‘Cloud Capsual’ - Mamou-Mani @ Sto Werkenstatt London 6 | ‘Cloud Capsual’ - Mamou-Mani @ Sto Werkenstatt London
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Toby Plunkett
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Cymattic Order - Art Instilation
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tobyp@live.co.uk