GAME IV: NODES
Thousands of starlings dance together in the sky of the northern hemisphere during winter sunsets. In the first century, Plutarch, convinced that these birds´ movements were guided by gods, proposed that science should decipher the messages contained in this flight. Nowadays, those who still accept Plutarch´s challenge suggest that the contortions of these flocks are governed by a really simple rule: each bird inside moves toward the members felt closer. Somehow, this regulation of local interaction ends up connecting the whole group, creating a global structure that flows together forming an endless number of shapes.
In a limited space, the movements forward following a principle similar to the one of the starlings´ constantly links a certain number of individuals through their actions. The consequence of this connection is a mixture that brings together the movement of its parts.
In Nodes, a set of paper figures come up from a number of specific interactions.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Set three points on each side of a paper polygon.
2. Gather several people. Each person should choose a different side of the polygon. Sit down accordingly.
3. One person sets a “start point” among his/her three points. Then the person on his/her right will choose a point on his/her own side.
4. Continue this sequence until you reach the last participant. At that time, each person will connect his/her point to those both on the left and on the right.
5. Fold the paper polygon along the resulting lines to create a figure.
6. After that, always keeping the “starting side” fixed, start a new play on another polygon.
7. Repeat the process, registering it with photographs, until you obtain the figure resulted on the first play.