The Evening Line is the result of a three year collaboration between artist Matthew Ritchie, architects Benjamin Aranda et Chris Lasch and engineers at Arup AGU.

The Evening Line is both an autonomous and site-specific structure conceived for the Biennial and a fragment of a much larger structure – potentially the size of the universe, through the application of fractal geometry: The Morning Line currently on view at the Contemporary Art Biennial of Seville. Both constructions are infinitely modular, they are built from a single shape called “the bit” that derives from a truncated tetrahedron.

Made of laser-cut aluminum modules, the architectural structure reflects Ritchie’s attempts to reflect the vastness of the universe. The Evening Line has no single way in or out, no beginning or end, no single narrative, only movements around multiple centers. Its modular units can increase or decrease around a fixed ratio, they can also expand or contract in any size or direction.

Slideshow:

I could either embark in a long and complex blurb about hte purpose and function of The Evening Line or point you in the direction of this video in which Matthew Ritchie makes it almost crystal-clear.

The Evening Line is on view at the Arsenale, Venice until November 23rd, 2008.