Flowform

Flowform Water Sculptures

The flowform is a novel invention and art form created by English sculptor A. John Wilkes1. The basic concept is of a sculpted water fountain that has a bi-symmetrical shape, remarkably similar in shape and gesture to organs such as the kidneys, lungs, or sexual organs. Through its own inherent rhythmic nature, the water begins to pulse from one side of the form to the other in a lemniscate, or figure-of-eight. Certain flowforms also employ vortex technology. This has a number of benefits on the water as well as on the air. Dissolved oxygen readings on the water are particularly high. Through this process the water also begins to restructure itself, creating tighter water cluster bands, known as braids, in which the angle of the hydrogen atoms to the oxygen is at the ideal state for water to hold its greatest energetic potential. This motion and subsequent energizing is what is employed in the making of homeopathic medicines. Negative ion generation in the air also results from the continuous wave action, similar to the waves on a beach or at a waterfall. The flowform differs from regular fountains in that the amount of surface area is optimized and the water has a much longer flow path in a shorter amount of space than ordinary fountains. These features put flowforms in the category of a biomimicry technology. Flowforms have been employed in waste water treatment, and in this application resemble the shape of a large intestine.

Water Quality

Various testing methods have been developed to assess these subtle changes in the water's quality such as the drop picture method. The drop picture method looks at the surface tension of water- which is an expression of its structure. In this method, a drop of water is dropped into a petri dish of glicerin and the resulting pattern is photographed before it dissolves into chaos. Water that has high vitality and structure will form an elaborate and undulatory splay-pattern, whereas water that has been polluted or damaged cannot form any kind of notable pattern. See for further information. Also related to assessing the quality of the water is the sensitive crystallization method developed by Ehrenfried Pfieffer. Pfieffers method involves using a copper chloride solution to determine the vitality of a given organism.

Landscape and Design

The most prominent application of flowforms has been for landscape features and public art. The organic and symmetrical shape has an esthetic appeal, and the rhythmic sound of the water creates a calming environment. As a biomimicry technology, the flowform is scalable, and is applied in small private home gardens, all the way up to large public water features. A number of very famous installations were carried out between 1982 and 1986 at the ING Bank in Amsterdam, which won a prestigious international award as the most ecologically designed building in the world. The New York Times described the flowform as "the most poetic, and ecologically sound innovation in the building." Further information on this installation can be seen at http://www.flow-forms.com/other_flowforms/public_sculptures/ing_bank_eco-sculptures_extraordinaire.html

The flowform has also been employed in another realm- healing and meditation. The pulsing sound of the flowform has an increased calming effect on a persons consciousness. The experience of the sight and sound of the rocking figure-eight has a mesmerizing effect- like watching fire. Flowforms have been installed in convalescent homes, and more notably Camphill Villages. Waldorf Schools also often feature them as the 'breathing' of the flowform informs and reinforces the breathing that Waldorf education seeks to imbue on it students.

History & Context

Wilkes was the sculpture professor at Emerson College- an Anthroposophical school for Waldorf training. In the mid-60's and early 70's, Wilkes worked in collaboration with water flow scientist Theodor Schwenk (author of Sensitive Chaos2 which includes a preface by Jacques Cousteau) and mathematician George Adams. They were investigating the phenomenon known as "path-curve surfaces", the intricate and delicate surfaces that water forms as it moves. These path-curves also serve as the blueprint for organic shape and form. The growth of all higher forms of life adhere to these patterns, which can be articulated mathematically using Projective Geometry. A direct influencing inspiration for the flowform concept was the observation of Van Karmen Vortex trails- the meandering, pulsing wave-forms that water creates when a straight line is drawn through it. Van Karman vortices can also be seen when cloud banks move over islands. It was noted that water has an inherent rhythmical nature, and seeks to move in pulsing and sinuous patterns. This is again related to its capacity to sturcture itself into coherent layers and forms- like the standing wave found in rivers. Thus it is said that water is the architect of life.

All three of these water pioneers were directly influenced by the work of Rudolf Steiner- the visionary for Waldorf education, Biodynamic Agriculture, and the founder of the Anthroposophical Society. John Wilkes's work is now focused on further research into the nature of water through his international non-profit Healing Water Institute, co-founded by one of his students Iain Trousdell .

Though very similar and related, the flowform is not directly influenced by the work of Victor Schauberger.

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