Curved Kite Fibonacci Spiral I

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. The curved kite thus shows a kind of “squaring of the circles”.

Curved Kite Fibonacci Spiral

The Curved Kite Fibonacci Spiral is created by aligning the individual kites according to their Fibonacci size so that the large quarter circles touch at the tips and the sharp tips always point inwards. To do this, each kite must be rotated clockwise by 90º degrees.

This creates the well-known Fibonacci spiral along the outer edge of the large quarter circles, which gives the picture its name. The Fibonacci spiral is very similar to the golden spiral.

The inner space of this spiral, which is created by the spines of the curved kites, is given its own figurative quality by the Fibonacci proportions, which resembles a curling leaf or flower.

This creates two images in one that compete for the viewer’s attention.

The only difference between the Curved Kite Fibonacci Spiral I shown here and the Curved Kite Fibonacci Spiral II is the background, which is dark blue in the latter.

More images from the Curved Kite series: