Oribotics [n-Dimensional]

Oribotics \[n-Dimensional] / Matthew Gardiner, Ars Electronica Futurelab, Luca Zimmermann - Photo: Matthew Gardiner

ORI*botics / Futurelab Night

Exhibit

Oribotics [n-Dimensional]

Can Origami Fold Into More Dimensions?

Matthew Gardiner (AU/AT), Ars Electronica Futurelab (AT), Luca Zimmermann (CH)

Recent work in rigid origami theory by Luca Zimmermann enabled us to realize our Gigantic Oribotic Spiral (2024) as a mechanically rigid-foldable structure. The theory provides a way to mathematically define a minimal parametric design space based on the angles in a crease pattern and to calculate its folding and unfolding precisely.

Our geometric model let us explore these variations one at a time, a method we used to choose geometry for large-scale fabrication. But conceptually and computationally, we began to wonder: there’s an infinite number of variations, each one of them valid rigid origami. We soon found that calculating the infinite problem space is a future challenge, perhaps for quantum computing, but what we can do is approximate it as a discrete dataset. To create experience, the dataset requires interpretation, leading to a series of new artworks that explore the n-dimensionality of origami.

POSTCITY, First Floor, Open Futurelab
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  • Photo: Florian Voggenger

    Matthew Gardiner

    Matthew Gardiner’s artistic practice flows between digital and physical mediums, playing in the in-between. Sometimes experiments lead to the digitalisation of material phenomena and sometimes to the fabrication and programming of materials. The intersections, and emergent properties of the new object, field or device often reveal new inspirations and unexpected questions. Gardiner is currently Ars Electronica Futurelab’s Head of Art Science Research Strategies.

  • Photo: Bettina Gangl

    Ars Electronica Futurelab

    The Futurelab is the Ars Electronica’s artistic R&D laboratory and atelier. Together with worldwide partners, the Futurelab strives to create works that reveal the transformative force that emerges when art, technology, and society converge. The goal is to use these works as a catalyst for future innovation and societal change. The outcomes build on the Futurelab’s Art Thinking method, Art Science Research, and Future Impact Creation for experimental, exploratory future prototyping.

  • Photo: Luca Zimmermann

    Luca Zimmermann

    Luca Zimmermann specializes in mechanical folding. He studied at ETH Zürich, where he focused his Bachelor’s and Master’s on biomechanics, structural analysis and optimization, automated generative design, and design for additive manufacturing. In his PhD, he built his scientific home in the realm of rigid origami where he discovered some quite fundamental folding mathematics. Since 2024, his company ORIKIN focuses on large-scale, interactive kinetic sculptures.

Credits

Ars Electronica Futurelab: Alexandre Bezri, Matthew Gardiner, Simon Schmid, Anna Weiss In collaboration with: ORIKIN, Luca Zimmermann (Rigid Origami/artist) This research was funded in whole or in part by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) [10.55776/AR590] PEEK Grant AR590 ORI*botics On the Art and Science of Origami and Robotics.