Use the Present Perimeter to create art. | Jonathan Nesci | The Art Assignment

TL;DR

Designer Jonathan Nesci discusses his use of the present perimeter system in his art and offers an assignment to create a work of art using this system.

Transcript

SARAH URIST GREEN (VOICEOVER): This episode of The Art Assignment is brought to you by Squarespace. Today we're in Columbus, Indiana, inside of First Christian Church, which was designed by famed architect, Eliel Saarinen, and completed in 1942. It was in the courtyard lawn outside of this church, last year, that designer Jonathan Nesci cited his i... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥳 Jonathan Nesci's "100 Variations" installation was inspired by the golden ratio design of First Christian Church.
• 🧡 Nesci developed the present perimeter system, which combines specific shapes to create a wide range of variations in art and furniture design.
• 👻 The present perimeter system provides a foundational background for artistic exploration, allowing artists to work with different materials and push the boundaries of their creativity.
• 🥶 Working within a system or constraint can be freeing and stimulating for artists, as it provides a framework to build upon and encourages experimentation.
• 🧑‍🎨 Artists like Sol LeWitt and Allan McCollum have also used rational systems in their art to challenge traditional notions of composition and generate complex and meaningful works.
• 🧑‍🎨 The present perimeter system offers artists the freedom to use any material, process, or skill, allowing for endless possibilities in creating art.
• 💨 Nesci believes that breaking one's own rules within a system can be an exciting way to further explore and expand on artistic concepts.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the present perimeter system?

The present perimeter system is a design concept developed by Jonathan Nesci, which combines a hexagon, three half hexagons, three rhombuses, and three triangles to create a wide range of variations in art and furniture design.

Q: How did Jonathan Nesci come up with the present perimeter system?

Nesci was initially inspired by his son's geometry project, where they had to find the smallest perimeter using specific shapes. He explored these shapes in AutoCAD and discovered the potential for creating beautiful and unique forms by twisting and reconfiguring them.

Q: Can artists use any material or process for the present perimeter system?

Yes, artists are encouraged to explore any material, process, or skill they prefer when creating art using the present perimeter system. Nesci believes that the system allows for experimentation with different materials and pushes artists to try new things.

Q: What are the benefits of working within a system or constraint?

Working within a system or constraint provides a framework that can be both freeing and stimulating for artists. It allows them to focus their creativity within specific boundaries, encouraging exploration and pushing the limits of what can be achieved.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Jonathan Nesci's installation titled "100 Variations" was inspired by the golden ratio design of First Christian Church in Columbus, Indiana.

• Nesci is a furniture designer who uses industrial materials and fabrication processes to create minimal and precise forms.

• He developed the present perimeter system, which combines a specific set of shapes into various compositions, and encourages others to create art using this system.