Cheryl Akner Koler
Form & Formlessness
Questioning aesthetic abstractions through art projects, cross-disciplinary studies and product design education
By Cheryl Akner/Koler
PhD thesis
Form & Formlessness documents experimental research in applied aesthetics in the field of art & design as well as cross-disciplinary projects. This richly illustrated thesis presents a system of aesthetic abstractions, as well methods and models that both support and question the normative concept of beauty. The thesis has high relevance for teaching 3-D formgiving aesthetics and “research by design”-methodologies.
Download the entire thesis: Form_& Formlessness. pdf
Download the Thesis coat pages 1-77.pdf
Part 1: A taxonomy of 3-D form is presented through 98 visualization models. The taxonomy was developed through an educational method engaging industrial design students in the development of concepts and terminology.
Paper I pages 79-93.pdf
Akner-Koler, Cheryl
Expanding the boundaries of form theory. Developing the model Evolution of Form.
Paper II pages 95-165 .pdf
Akner-Koler, Cheryl
Three dimensional visual analysis.
Part 2: The art-based part of the thesis challenges the abstract aesthetic reasoning in part 1 through the author’s own explorative, sculptural work in distortion, transparency and material breakdown as well as through collaborative projects with physicists. An expanded version of the Evolution of Form-model is presented.
Pp III Twist, blur pr.doc
Akner-Koler, Cheryl
Twisting, blurring and dissolving the hard edges of constructivism.
Work/ Paper IV
Akner-Koler, Cheryl and Bergström, Lars and Yamdagni, Narendra and Hulth, P.O.
Infinity, exhibition and program.
Paper V pages 171-185.pdf
Akner-Koler, Cheryl and Bergström, Lars
Complex curvatures in form theory and string theory
VI challenging .pdf
Akner-Koler, Cheryl
Challenging and expanding the model Evolution of Form
Part 3: The cross-disciplinary approach further develops and questions the results of the first two parts. Collaborative experiments on the theme “Complexity and transformation” were conducted by artists, physicists and designers. From these experiments several models were developed dealing with aesthetic expressions of change in materials over time.
Paper VII .pdf
Akner-Koler, Cheryl
Unfolding the aesthetics of complexity
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Paper-VIII.pdf
Contextualizing aesthetic reasoning through a laboration on dendritic growth. Generating and regenerating aesthetic concepts through cross-disciplinary studies.
Akner-Koler, Cheryl and Billger, Monica and Dyrssen, Catharina
Cross-disciplinary study in complexity and transformation: Transforming aesthetics.
Work/Paper X
Akner-Koler, Cheryl (project leader and producer) and Norberg, Björn (co-producer)
In conclusion the thesis claims the value of combining abstract reasoning with embodied aesthetic practice, within and beyond the fields of art and design.
PhD. Thesis