The Luminous Envelope

Gabrielle Hoad | The Luminous Envelope | 2015 | Digital photograph

The Luminous Envelope is a series of photographs made in response to Fresnel's Wave Surface, one of a collection of late 19th century/early 20th century teaching models held at Oxford University's Mathematical Institute. It describes the propagation of light in an optically biaxial crystal. The crystal's molecular structure causes light to refract in predictable ways, and the university's model offers a 'snapshot' of this wavefront as it radiates from the centre.

The model renders the behaviour of light as solid, interlocking, plaster objects. I set out to invert that process by dissolving tangible objects (cubes, cones) into zones of light. Techniques used to make the images incorporate polarisation, a phenomenon employed in the study of crystals.

The photographs can be seen in 'Illegitimate Objects', alongside work from other artists working with different models from the Oxford collection. The exhibition runs from 18 September to 12 November 2015 at the Oxford Mathematical Institute, Andrew Wiles Building, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2

https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/node/14879

An illegitimate object? Fresnel's wave surface.

Here's a little video from Oxford Maths Institute, showing the model of Fresnel's wave surface that I've been working with over the past few months. This two-part, interlocking plaster structure describes the propagation of light in an optically biaxial crystal.

It could be considered an 'illegitimate' object because pure mathematics can't really be conveyed through physical objects. An article in Wired magazine claims such models – made in the late 19th/early 20th century and previously used as teaching aids in university departments – were locked away in the 1940s "to protect students from the dangers of intuition".

The photographs I made in response can be seen at 'Illegitimate Objects', alongside work from other artists working with different models from the Oxford collection. The exhibition runs from 18 September to 12 November 2015 at the Oxford Mathematical Institute, Andrew Wiles Building, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6GG More information on this and other models held in their collection can be found at www.maths.ox.ac.uk/node/14847