Leaf photomicrographs

When I was playing with the Nervous System program, Radiolaria, to create my own patterns it reminded me of photomicrographs of a plant's leaf, root and stem. The photomicrograph images were taken from my high school biology notes.

Nervous System. (n.d.).Radiolaria. My pattern from the Nervous System program

Bowes.K.own photo (2020).Photomicrograph notes

Nervous system program

On the Nervous System website, they have access to a program so that their customers can make their own custom pieces for purchase. The one program Radiolaria works by giving a plain grid in which you have tools to manipulate the grid in different ways.

Figure 4 shows how I manipulated the grid and figure 5 shows the grid without the manipulation points. It also shows how your piece will look as a completed jewellery piece; you can also change the placement of the hook.

 Figure 6 shows a piece of jewellery Nervous Systems made that used the Radiolaria program. I searched for the program that allows them to digitally grow venation (xylem) patterns but their program for growing xylem patterns is unavailable to the public.

Figure 4- Nervous System. (n.d.).Radiolaria.My manipulation points on the grid

Figure 5 -Nervous System. (n.d.).Radiolaria Grid without the points

Figure 6-Nervous System. (n.d.) Radiolaris bracelet, Silicone rubber 

Nervous system

Nervous System was founded by Jessica Rosenkrantz and Jesse Louis-Rosenberg in 2007. They use their own written programs and technology to replicate growth patterns in nature like cellular mitosis and xylem patterns but done on a computer. They use techniques such as 3D printing, laser cutting and etching to create their designs depending on the materials. Nervous System designs jewellery, lighting, houseware and puzzles. 

Here, I have included some examples of their jewellery work and methods used. The rubber that they use is laser cut as seen in figure 1 but the brass in their work is photochemically etched. The designs have to be precise so they can tolerate the forming process, in which a hydraulic press is used, figure 2. Figure 3 is an example of a xylem pattern that they generated with their program that has been translated into a piece of jewellery.

Figure 1-Rosenkrantz, J.Louis-Rosenberg, J.,(n.d.). Crenulate. Lasercut rubber necklace and bracelet

Figure 2- Rosenkrantz, J.Louis-Rosenberg, J., (n.d.).Prototypes to test design for the forming process

Figure 3-Rosenkrantz, J.Louis-Rosenberg, J., (n.d.)  Xylem Brooch, etched leaf venation