Deconstructed Magnolia

The images are taken from a three-dimensional model undertaken during the first days of the Covid-19 pandemic in Paris. They offered a means of remembering and reimagining my family's own magnolia in Montréal as a teenager. Imagined as a kind of 'fantastic voyage' in reference to the 1966 film of the same name, the images allow the viewer to enter inside an almost psychedelic and hypothetical structure of the flower. The selection of images here provide a first set of views in this posting, of a visual deconstruction, illustrating in the process how the various elements come together - among them the carpels and stamens of the reproductive tower, the magnificent saucer-shaped tepals, the leaf pouches or bracts, and the branch that ties it to the tree.

Location

Virtual

Year

2022

Designer

Raphaël JUSTEWICZ

3D modeling

Rhino v6

3D model of Deconstructed Magnolia with transparent, distinct colors highlighting tepals, carpels, and stamens, offering a visual coding of internal structures.

By way of a selection of transparent colors, each tepal is assigned a distinct and different color. So are the carpels and stamens of the reproductive tower, thereby setting up a visual means to identify the structures as they pass within, and therefore offering a coding from within on the images illustrated here.

3D model of Deconstructed Magnolia with colored tepals tracing nutrient circulation from the branch to the flower's internal structures.

The colors of the tepals can be traced all the way to the end of the branch, illustrating how the supply of nutrients circulates within the flower.

3D model of Deconstructed Magnolia in classic white, emphasizing the sculptural quality of its elements and evoking a sense of wonder.

Keeping the elements in iconic and classic white - in contrast to the other images shown in color - the construction of the various elements apparent here veritably highlight their sculptural quality - as well as our amazement.

Interior view of Deconstructed Magnolia showing purple stamens within a spiraling structure, with red channels symbolizing nutrient circulation and yellow channels representing sensory stimuli.

From within and looking up, the purple-colored stamens are anchored within a spiraling structure, each receiving nutrients via a symbolic circulation system of red channels as well as processing sensory stimuli via a network of yellow channels.

Internal view of Deconstructed Magnolia showing magenta carpels and purple stamens linked to circulatory and nerve channels converging at the branch.

From within and looking down toward the branch, magenta-colored carpels (as well as the purple-colored stamens) are similarly linked to the circulatory system and nerve channels, here shown to be converging into the much narrower neck that leads to the branch.