Concept
Curved Kites
The Curved Kites collection shows arrangements of a series of so-called curved kites, whose dimensions correspond to Fibonacci numbers. A curved kite is an interesting geometric figure that resembles a stingray or a curved kite.
The edge of a curved kite consists of three quarter circles. The two small quarter circles of the same size meet in the pointed tail of the kite. The large quarter circle connects the other ends of the small quarter circles and meets them at a 45° angle.
If the small quarter circles have a radius r, then the large quarter circle has a radius R = √2·r.
A curved kite has the amazing property that its area is exactly r², where r is the radius of the small quarter circles. Consequently, this curved kite has the area of the square in which one of its quarter circles is embedded (see figure below). The curved kite thus shows a kind of “squaring of the circles”.
Foto: © 2024 Gauthier Cerf. All rights reserved.
Curved Kite Dragon's Tail
Curved Kite Dragon’s Tail is a simple form of curved kites that uses only half-kites, which are created when a kite is cut in half vertically by the pointed tail. These half-kites are stacked horizontally according to their Fibonacci size, with the sharp tips all starting at the same point. The half-kites are stacked so that the larger kites lie on top of the smaller ones. Because the larger kites have thinner tips, you can see all (infinitely many) kites and their colours at the origin of the figure.
The second tip of each half-kite stands vertically upwards. It is these tips that give the resulting figure its name due to their resemblance to a dragon’s tail.
The colours of the dragon’s tail were chosen with a red gradient that runs from light (for the small kites) to dark (for the larger ones). This also creates a three-dimensionality, similar to the view of mountain ranges, which become lighter/hazier in the background and slowly disappear before the eye.
More images from the Curved Kite series: