Waterline resembles a thickened atmosphere of ghostly waves within the double high entryway of Building 204. It is neither solid nor emptiness but has qualities of both. Seventeen thousand segments of painted stainless steel ball chain, totaling over 10 miles in length make up this work. By integrating digital computation with hand production techniques, Ball-Nogues meticulously combined the segments to form an array of “catenaries” that span the ceiling. In mathematics, a catenary is the shape of a curve formed by a chain hanging between two points.
Composed of seven colors, the chains make an intricate system of overlapping curves. The result suggests a three-dimensional abstract painting that looks differently depending on one’s vantage point. From one angle, the viewer sees hard-edged geometric shapes in distinct color; from another angle, she sees the same colors blurred to make a vapor-like composition.
In naval engineering, the term “waterline” refers to the contour made by the hull of a ship meeting water. This Ball-Nogues installation includes a field of magenta color that is parallel to the ground plane catenaries. Analogous to a waterline, this feature becomes reference for gauging the discrepancies between the “theoretical” models generated within the computer and the physical reality of the installation constructed from the data output by the computer.
Principals in Charge: Benjamin Ball and Gaston Nogues
Project Management: Benjamin Jenett
Project Team: James Jones, Allison Porterfield, Anirudh Dhawan, Sonali Patel, Melissah Bridge, Edwin Cho, Julian Rui Hwang, H Clark, Mora Nabi, R.J. Tripodi
Structural Engineering Consultants: Buro Happold, Los Angeles.
Custom Software Design: www.sparcestudio.com
