Li - Dynamic Form in Nature

Why does Nature use the same special patterns over and over again What are the main families of natural design How are they formed Did the ancient Chinese really study this incredible science of art In this beautiful book, illustrated by the author, a new perception of organic pattern, Li, is presented for the first time in the West. Essential reading for designers, artists, philosophers and natural scientists.

• 1 Li reflect the order and pattern in Nature ... but it is not pattern thought of as something dead,
• 3 li dynamic form in nature written and illustrated by David Wade First published in the U.S. by Wal
• 4 Contents Introduction 1 Aggregation 4 Anfractuous
• 1 IntroductIon There is a haunting if deceptive modernity in the notion, so often celebrated by baro
• 2 3 Li are essentially dynamic formations, and as such can give the impression of a frozen moment, o
• 4 5 AggregAtIon the collocation of elements According to the early Greek philosopher Empedocles all
• 6 7 AnfrActuous winding and turning forms The irregular, streaming forms of the kind opposite derive
• 8 9 AngulAted formed with angles The interlocking crystalline forms of riverice opposite top pile on
• 10 11 BrAnchA branching patterns Branching systems provide an elegant solution where there is a need
• 12 13 BrechIA breaking and separating This is a class of li that is primarily associated with marble
• 14 15 cellulAr basic organic arrangements All organisms are made up of cells they comprise the basic
• 16 17 concentrA propagation around centres Apart from their rich colouring, what is the real appeal
• 18 19 contornAre physiographical configurations This category of li includes all manner of topograph
• 20 21 crAckle shrinkage patterns crazing networks It surely says a great deal about their respectiv
• 22 23 fIlIces fernlike formations For those who live in cold northerly latitudes the delicate frosty
• 24 25 frActure cracks in elastic materials Although they bear a superficial similarity, the pattern
• 26 27 lAByrInthIne natural maze patterns Many civilisations, both ancient and modern, have created m
• 28 29 lIchenIform lichen lichenlike growth The flat encrustations of lichen, that ancient coloniser
• 30 31 nuBIlous cloud and cloudlike formations Clouds, with their amorphous boundaries and turbulent
• 32 33 PhyllotAxy dynamic spirality The leafdistribution system of plants is determined by a strict m
• 34 35 PolygonAl geometric quasiregularity The diagram below is an outline of a section of the basalt
• 36 37 retIform netlike formations Latticelike divisions, reticulations, are a feature of many li, an
• 38 39 rIvAs river drainage systems Rivers and their networks of tributaries present one of the most
• 40 41 rIPPles dunes wind and current patterns in sand Sand is itself inert, but wherever it is foun
• 42 43 trIgons triangular formations Triangles are rare in nature, but the surfaces of diamonds, when
• 44 45 vArIegAtus spots, speckles and scrawls One of the most universal and familiar formative proces
• 46 47 vAsculum leaf vascular patterns Leaves of all kinds are involved in the worlds single most imp
• 48 49 vermIculAte wormlike arrangments All of these intriguing figures, found among a range of quite
• 50 51 vIscous mAculAe release patterns It seems appropriate to end this survey of li with a category
• 52 53 AddendA gAttA One of the more intriguing aspects of li lies in the unlikely similitudes that
• 54 55 AddendA rePtIlIA AddendA AmPhIBIA 15. 17. 914. 16. 18. 19. 21. 20. 22. 23. 24. 25.
• 56 57 AddendA PIsces AddendA conchA 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 32. 31. 33. 35. 36. 37. 38. 34.
• 58 AddendA molluscA INDEX TO ADDENDA 1. Baby Tapir. 2. Common zebra. 3. Grvys zebra. 4. Giraffe