22MM_X01

One way that we found inspiration for our membrane model series was from the way nylon and spandex clothing stretch over the form of the human body. The bulges and curves of every unique body give this clothing its shape, and thus its life. To achieve the same quality in our membrane models, we first stretched nylon fabric over the curved surface of a balloon (or two) and attached it to an acrylic frame to hold the balloons in place. As we placed the nylon, the balloons created pockets of air that shaped the fabric. Each iteration in the model series varies in the amount of fabric used, the shape of the balloons used, and where the fabric was attached to the grid.
After placing the fabric around the balloons, we preserved its new shape by casting it in plaster. Finding the right consistency to brush it on by hand was a challenge, but it was very rewarding to pop the balloons when it dried. This left us with varying forms of membranes that generate fascinating spaces within, beneath, and above the casted structures.