The Study of a Pufferfish
September 2013 - December 2013
Semester Project of Various Media & Sizes (Cornell University)
Individual Project (Professor Jim Williamson &
Val Warke
This project is an exercise on design process. I was assigned to study the sandy underwater environment and skin characteristics of Japanese Pufferfish. The skin membrane is very elastic - the fish expands quickly when triggered. It also creates crop circles in the sand with its fins during its mating season. I built models and created drawings that abstracted their living environment. I then interpreted how their skin and spikes expand when the fish is under attack. These models and contraptions are at different scales that mimicked the behavioral qualities of the fish.
A model of the animal’s unravelling skin. The contraption is designed to be worn on the human body. When the wearer rocks back and forth, the unravelling “skin” mimics the speed and rhythm of how the pufferfishes skin expands. The machine leaves imprints on the wall, similar to how pufferfish leave imprints in the sand when creating crop circles.
This model is hosted on a cane rail at the Architecture school. When the chipboard skin is pulled quickly, the spikes rotate and point up, similar to how a pufferfish expands.
I captured the moment in time when the animal’s spikes and skin unravelled when the fish is under attack. These interpretations are abstracted.
A wooden model that shows the drawing machine’s imprints on the paper.
Close up of a wooden model that shows the drawing machine’s imprints on the paper.
I created a concrete/rockite model of the sandy bottom of the ocean. I like this model because it evokes the mysterious aura of underwater caves, as well as show case the soft, billowy nature of sand at the bottom of the sea.
I created a concrete model to interpret the sandy underwater conditions. This was an improvement from using wood as concrete allowed for more flexibility in form. The soft peaks of the concrete model evoke the atmospheric nature of underwater caves and sandy sea beds.
I laminated wood and created an unpeeled effect as a way of abstracting and interpreting the sandy underwater conditions of the animal’s habitat. The directional nature of the wooden material, as well as its thickness limited the shape and extent of “peeled” sand from the bottom of the ocean. I proceeded to try different techniques.
I was analysing and drawing a kernel of corn for another class while working on this project. The texture and movement of the leaves also deeply inspired the model making process.