Form & Formlessness
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FORM & FORMLESSNESS THESIS FOR DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY THESIS FOR DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Form and Formlessness is an experimental research RESEARCH ISBN 978-91-976644-6-2 project that investigates how aesthetic abstractions COLLABORATION are developed through three approaches: BETWEEN FORM & • an educational approach concerned with devel- Department of Architecture oping an aesthetic discipline, supporting a form- Chalmers University of Technology giving process aimed to create tangible artifacts. Göteborg, Sweden 2007 FORMLESSNESS • an art-based approach supporting an open explo- Examination rights – Chalmers ration of distortion and formlessness. 9 789197 664462 • a cross-disciplinary exploratory approach con- Department of Industrial Design QUestioning Aesthetic ABstractions throUgh cerned with aesthetic experiences shared in Konstfack University College of Arts, www.axlbooks.com Art ProJects, Cross-disciplinary STUdies and laborations demonstrating complexity and trans- Crafts and Design [email protected] formation. Stockholm, Sweden 2007 ProdUct Design EDUcation The thesis offers methods and models that both sup- port and challenge the normative concepts of beauty, CHERYL AKNER-KOLER with high relevance for teaching 3-D formgiving aes- thetics and research by design methodologies. Cheryl Akner-Koler is professor in form theory and practice at the Department of Industrial Design at Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm, Sweden. She is an active sculptor and has driven many collaborative art/ science proj- ects on themes such as empty space, infinity and complexity. Form and Formlessness is her doctorial thesis. C H ER Y L AKNER - KOLER Photo: Åke Sandström Photo: Åke Sandström <axl> THESIS FOR DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY FORM & FORMLESSNESS Questioning Aesthetic Abstractions through Art Projects, Cross-disciplinary Studies and Product Design Education CHERYL AKNER-KOLER RESEARCH COLLABORATION BETWEEN: Department of Architecture Chalmers University of Technology Göteborg, Sweden 2007 Examination rights – Chalmers Department of Industrial Design Konstfack University College of Arts, Crafts and Design Stockholm, Sweden 2007 Form & Formlessness Questioning Aesthetic Abstractions through Art Projects, Cross-disciplinary Studies and Product Design Education CHERYL AKNER-KOLER © Cheryl Akner-Koler 2007 Doktorsavhandling vid Chalmers tekniska högskola Ny serie nr 2659 ISBN 978-91-7291-978-5 ISSN 0346-718X ISSN 1650-6340, 2007:04 Publikation – Chalmers tekniska högskola Avdelningen för Arkitektur RESEARCH COLLABORATION BETWEEN: Department of Architecture Chalmers University of Technology Göteborg, Sweden 2007 Examination rights – Chalmers Department of Industrial Design Konstfack University College of Arts, Crafts and Design Stockholm, Sweden 2007 www.konstfack.se [email protected] Cover photo, front and back: Sculpture: Twisted Curvature, Cheryl Akner-Koler Photo: Åke Sandström Printed by Printfinder in Riga (Latvia) 2007 Axl Books www.axlbooks.com [email protected] ISBN 978-91-976644-6-2 iII ABSTRACT This research is based on empirical, tures and organic principles into a sequence Key words: Aesthetics, architecture, embodied studies aimed to generate and of seven-stages. To question the normative formgiving, gestalt, complexity, embodiment, regenerate aesthetic reasoning through three principles of beauty inherent in the EoF-model, art, design education, taxonomy. approaches: a bipolar +/- spectrum was introduced at each • an educational approach concerned with stage to expand the model, aiming for a more developing an aesthetic discipline, supporting inclusive approach to aesthetics. a formgiving process aimed to create tangible artifacts. -Part 2 both challenges and expands the • an art-based approach supporting an open aesthetic reasoning in part 1 through i) solo exploration of distortion and formlessness sculptural exhibitions exploring properties of • a multi-disciplinary exploratory approach distortion and transparency in a constructivist concerned with aesthetic experiences shared art community ii) collaborative projects with in laborations demonstrating complexity and physicists concerning infinity and studies transformation. of continuous complex curvatures and iii) explorative studies of material breakdown and The overall aim of the thesis is to explore non-visual studies with ID Masters students different types of aesthetic abstractions that at Konstfack. elaborate aesthetic reasoning about form and formlessness. The thesis develops methods - Part 3 problematizes the taxonomy of form and models for aesthetic investigation that by applying methods and results from a support, challenge and go beyond the norma- cross-disciplinary study of complexity and tive concepts of beauty, with high relevance transformation involving artists, physicists, for teaching 3-D formgiving aesthetics and designers and architects. The three year study research by design methodologies. A central explored temporal events of changing phe- method applied throughout the entire research nomena and formlessness that did not comply project is a cooperative inquiry method engag- with any traditional aesthetic norms. Based ing students and experienced professionals on experience from 12 laborations, three as co-researchers in embodied/ interactive models were developed: The Transforma- physical form studies and laborations. tion-model and Framing the dialogue-model were developed to physically interact with as The content of the thesis is presented in three well as to document and discuss change and parts relating to the approaches above: transformation through bipolar reasoning. -Part 1 defines an aesthetic nomenclature The Aesthetic phase transition-model was organized within a taxonomy of form in space. developed to capture the particular properties This aesthetic taxonomy is outlined in five lev- expressed in a transformation and unify stable els based on essential aesthetic abstractions, objects with changing events. emphasizing structure and inner movement in relation to the intention for the development In conclusion, the thesis claims the value of a gestalt. It originates from the educational of an inclusive aesthetic mode of abstract program of Alexander Kostellow and Rowena reasoning in the scientific and design com- Reed and has been further developed through munities. A provisional 3 modes of abstrac- an iterative educational process using a Con- tion-model is presented placing numeric, cept-translation-form method, resulting in the linguistic and aesthetic modes of abstraction Evolution of Form (EoF)-model. This EoF-model as interdependent within a spectrum from reciprocally weaves together geometric struc- separation to contextualization. iV v LIST OF PUBLICATIONS This thesis is based on the work contained in the following papers PART 1 PART 2 PART 3 Developing an aesthetic taxonomy of form Expanding & challenging the Formlessness - beyond the Evolution of Form-model aesthetic taxonomy of form Paper I Akner-Koler, Cheryl. 2006. Paper III Paper VII Expanding the boundaries of form theory. Akner-Koler, Cheryl. 2006. Akner-Koler, Cheryl. 2007 (revised version). Developing the model Evolution of Form. Twisting, blurring and dissolving the hard Unfolding the aesthetics of complexity Paper presented at Proceedings: Wonder edges of constructivism. Cross-disciplinary study of complexity and Ground Design Research Society International Partaking in exhibition and catalogue essay in transformation: Evaluation for the Swedish Conference, IADE, November 1-4, in Lisbon, Konstruktiv tendens 25, Ed. Françoise Ribey- Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet). Portugal. (http://www.iade.pt/drs2006/won rolles-Marcus, 14-17. Stockholm: Konstruktiv derground/proceedings/fullpapers/DRS2006_ tendens Paper VIII 0260.pdf) Akner-Koler, Cheryl. 2006. Work/ Paper IV Contextualizing aesthetic reasoning through Paper II Akner-Koler, Cheryl, Bergström, Lars, Yam- a laboration on dendritic growth. Generating Akner-Koler, Cheryl. 1994. dagni, Narendra and P.O. Hulth. 2002. and regenerating aesthetic concepts through Three dimensional visual analysis. “Infinity” (exhibition and program) shown Sep- cross-disciplinary studies. Paper presented Printed by Swedish National Education Board, tember 17-29 at Kulturhuset, in Stockholm, at Proceedings: Symmetry Festival, August Stockholm, Sweden. Reprinted 2000. ISBN: Sweden. (www.formandformlessness.com) 12-18, in Budapest, Hungary. 91-87178-16-5. Translated to Korean by Chun- (http://www.conferences.hu/symmetry2006) shik Kim. Chohyong Education Ltd 2000. Paper V Akner-Koler, Cheryl and Lars Bergström. 2005. Paper IX Complex curvatures in form theory and string Akner-Koler, Cheryl, Billger, Monica and theory. Leonardo, Vol. 38, No. 3: 226-231. Catharina Dyrssen. 2005. Cross-disciplinary study in complexity and Paper VI transformation: Transforming aesthetics. Akner-Koler, Cheryl. 2006. Paper presented at Proceedings Joining Challenging and expanding the Evolution of forces conference ERA, University of Art and Form-model. Paper presented at Proceedings: Design, September 22-24, in Helsinki, Finland. 5th Nordcode seminar & workshop Connecting (http://www.uiah.fi/page.asp?path=1866;1919; fields, May 10-12, in Oslo, Norway. 4179;4698;11302) (http://nordcode.tkk.fi/oslo.html) Work/Paper X Akner-Koler, Cheryl (project leader and pro- ducer), Norberg, Björn (co-producer) Kajfes, Arijana and Ebba Matz (exhibition concept.) 2005. “Cross-disciplinary study of complexity & transformation”