Photoptosis: A Sculpture That Mimics Nature's Growth

Rajat Sodhi and Christoph Klemmt's Award-Winning Installation

Photoptosis is a unique installation that stands out for its innovative use of light as a material. The sculpture consists of a triangulated, tree-trunk-like stainless steel surface, onto which a set of side-glowing fiber optics cables has grown like the veins of Ivy. The growth of both the metal surface and the lighting were developed via computational simulations of natural processes, making it a perfect blend of nature and technology.

The inspiration for this design came from the geometries of both the stainless steel surface and the fiber optics cables, which were developed through computational algorithms that digitally simulate the growth of veins and plants. This venation algorithm simulates the need of plants to reach sunlight or of veins in leaves to supply every cell with nutrients. In doing so, the growth of the branches or the veins slowly expands to cover a large area, creating a visually stunning effect.

The structure of Photoptosis is made from 100 stainless steel panels of 3mm thickness that have been CNC-cut and CNC-bent to their respective shapes. The structural engineering managed to only utilize this thin steel surface as the sole structural element, without the need for any primary structure to hang those off. The foundation is made from concrete and contains a shaft to house the projector for the lighting system. The lighting is achieved by side-glowing fibre-optics cables. The bundle of 200 cables starts at the bottom of the sculpture and then branches out to reach every node on the stainless steel surface.

Located in Düsseldorf, Germany, the project was completed in 2017. The sculpture measures 2.5m x 3m x 3.5m in height, and the design team included Heinz-Jürgen Klemmt, Rajat Sodhi, and Christoph Klemmt. The design was awarded the Golden A' Design Award in 2018, a prestigious accolade granted to marvelous, outstanding, and trendsetting creations that reflect the designer's prodigy and wisdom.

Photoptosis is a testament to the power of design and technology to mimic and enhance the beauty of nature. It is a unique installation that pushes the boundaries of what is possible in art and design, and it is a deserving winner of the Golden A' Design Award. The copyrights for this design belong to Orproject, 2017.