Sciographia
CRITIC
Daniel Markiewicz
TEAM
Tianchang Chu, Riley Engelberger, Sonja Millermaier, Juli Petrillo
The Penn Museum currently organizes artifacts by their geographic origin and use. All artifacts are displayed simultaneously and under the same conditions, regardless of their unique characteristics. The curious cabinet gives preference to one artifact at a time, individually highlighting its geometry through cast shadow. At 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, and 1:00, shadows of a framed artifact are revealed on the base of the exhibit and each hour highlights the geometric transition from circle to oval to rectangle. While one object is revealed, the other three objects’ shadows are hidden and obscured by transparent fabric. Geometries are notated on the base, visually linking each light tube to its cast shadow. Artifacts are split within each light tube according their use, from quotidian to sacred, and to further reveal their geometric qualities. The structure of the cabinet is derived from studies of sun paths at the Penn Museum and the Wassily Chair by Marcel Breuer. Light tubes prioritizing the shadow of each artifact rest on repetitive U-shaped steel tube pipes, which both conform to and support each light tube.
CONCEPT
PLAN
ELEVATION
CONSTRUCTION
VESSEL FRAGMENTS
PROCESS
PHOTOGRAPHS