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A large grid made from very small components is how I visualized
the articulation of this sequence of e. I created a system: I defined
a specific method for directly articulating the digits; I defined
colors and a sequence for the colors; chose a number sequence; and
followed the plan to create the work.
As I made decisions about the individual units for this grid, while
considering dimensions, crochet pattern, and the type of form, I
also kept in mind the negative spaces and shadows that these decisions
would create. Cast shadow and negative space become a component.
I was thinking about: identity codes, internal patterns that code
the individual, DNA, external codes, population, individuals and
masses. I wanted to use a sequence large enough that a pattern would
be revealed, a pattern that read as some sort of code, a blueprint
that described something specific. Even if it was not clear what
that thing was, I wanted the pattern to resonate a purpose.
This work is based on digits from the number e. It is constructed
from 323 small units, 17 rows by 19 columns, to look like an enlarged
section of a microscopic organic blueprint. 17 and 19 are prime
numbers. The four molecule sequence of human DNA determined the
use of four alternating colors which serve as the space between
each flesh toned digit. The small units are joined together to form
9 sections, 3 rows by 3 columns. Can also be displayed as 3 horizontal
sections, each 117" wide by approximately 40" tall, to
accommodate low ceilings.
Also, focusing on how the material process parallels identity construction,
I crocheted all the units in this group to be the same. Each single
unit used the same stitch and the same number of stitches to produce
a mass of individuals who began exactly the same but by enduring
the steps within this material process, the cookie cutter units
took baby steps towards individuation. There are many opportunities
within each process step to lose control of the form and distort
each unit in its own unique way. Upon first look, the small units
that assemble to create the one large body seem the same, but in
actuality, no two units are.
A prime number is a positive integer
that can only be divided by 1 and itself. Prime numbers stand out
from a sea of other numbers as they are the multiplicative root
of all other numbers. They are the beginning, yet there are an infinite
number of them, they cannot be contained. Often, nature grows in
primes.
e is a real number constant that appears in certain kinds of mathematics
problems. Examples of such problems are those involving growth or
decay, the statistical “bell curve”, the shape of a
hanging cable, some problems of probability, some counting problems,
the study of the distribution of prime numbers, and often shows
up in calculus. Its value is approximately 2.718281828459045…
and has been calculated to 869,894,101 decimal places. e is also
the base of natural logarithms. e is a transcendental number. Transcendental
number is not expressible as an integer or as the root or quotient
of integers.
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