Flowform

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Flowforms, a kind of water sculpture or water art, are a sculpture artform in which a form is created that promotes the movement of water in a 'figure of eight' (Lemniscate) motion.

Contents 1 History of Flowforms 2 Description 3 Affiliates 4 Some Artists 5 Footnotes and references 6 See also 7 External links 8 Further reading

[edit] History of Flowforms

The flowform was invented by John Wilkes in the 1970 as a result of years of research into forms in nature, and their metamorphosis in space and time. These studies included the geometry of crystals, forms and growth patterns in many types of plants, all the heirachies of animal life, especially concentrating on bone morphology and organ formation in embryology, plus the distinctiveness of the unique human shape and function.

Wilkes was playing around with the symmetry of the meander when the pulsing figure-8 flowpattern emerged in his research sculptures. The specific definition of a flowform requires this figure-8 pulse to occur, without the flowform itself moving to make this happen.

Since that time there have been around 2000 projects installed in 50 countries around the world.^{[citation needed]}

Flowforms are thus artistic technologies. However, they are also claimed to probably increase the "capacity of water to support life."^{[citation needed]} However it is not defined exactly what is meant by this, or how it is achieved.

We are looking at the idea of 'rehabilitating' water to move , thus nurturing its regenerative ability. By encouraging it to move through a spectrum of rhythms and over a rich palette of surface qualities and movement, as the example illustrates, Nr 6b through this treatment water might be elevated again towards a nurturing of nature's wisdom filled formative processes.^[1]

Wilkes studied projective geometry under the distinguished mathematician George Adams, joining him at the Institut für Strömungswissenschaften (Flow Research Institute) at Herrischried in Germany, where he later collaborated with Theodor Schwenk (see Sensitive Chaos).^[2]

[edit] Description

In its simplist terms however, a Flowform is a technically designed surface usually incorporated into a sculpted 3 dimensional artistic shape. This surface enables water to develop and maintain an oscillating side-to-side, figure-8 flowpattern that has a rhythm.

As well as being fascinating to watch and hear, many people experience this water movement as therapeutic and calming.^{[citation needed]} With limited resources, research over 30 years has shown that Flowforms oxygenate well.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Affiliates

There is an International Flowform Association, made up of affiliates to the work pioneered and still led by John Wilkes from his Virbela Rhythm Research Institute in Emerson College, Sussex England.

As well, there is the International Flowform Design Research Association, made up of those handful of sculptors and scientists who are recognised designers of flowforms.

[edit] Some Artists

• John Wilkes /England
• Nigel Wells /Sweden
• Iain Trousdell /New Zealand

+ Paul van Dijk /Holland + Hanne Keis /Denmark

• Sven Schunemann /USA

[edit] Footnotes and references

1. ^ Background, on virbelaflowforms.anth.org.uk
2. ^ Implementing Schauberger's Vision, on schauberger-books.org.uk

Sven Schunemann USA Herbert Driezitel Germany

[edit] See also

• Pseudoscience
• Viktor Schauberger

[edit] External links

• Wellnessgoods history of flowforms. Commercial site.
• US Flowforms - commercial site.
• Virbela Flowforms
• Flowforms: Water Features In Tune with Nature - commercial site.
• Living Water Flow Forms - Australia - commercial site.
• Flowforms videos on YouTube

[edit] Further reading

• Flowforms: The Rhythmic Power of Water, John Wilkes, ISBN 0-86315-392-5