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The Quantum bowl

Guy Parmenter explains how his magnet bowl works

The Quantum bowl is constructed from Neodymium magnets (rare earth magnets) and standard chrome steel ball bearings. For most of the forms I have been creating using this technique no glue is necessary to hold the components together - it is magnetic force alone which binds the structure (however for the piece sent to New York I did use glue in order to ensure it could be packaged and displayed without supervision - the piece in this competition contained 3,500 magnets and almost a thousand ball bearings and was approx 300mm in diameter).

The bowls were never meant to permanent forms, merely expressions of the potential of the materials used and of an individuals imagination. Those who purchase the bowls are given the plans and the raw materials and assemble themselves. I am simply giving them one possible combination. If they get tired of the form or should it be dropped or damaged they are then able to reconstruct the piece in its original form or perhaps in an entirely different way.

I have been doing quite a lot of research into these particular magnets. This has involved using range of sizes (25mm by 25mm to 3mm by 1.5mm). The idea to use these smaller magnets with ball bearings came from research into as yet undeveloped piece (to be developed for Tactile Art Prize).

From these experiments I recognised the possibilities to create entirely new forms and adapted my knowledge to create these bowl forms. The development of the bowl form was a response to seeing the work of other practitioners at the Jam factory (particularly those in glass and ceramic) and the vessels they were creating. As a furniture maker I traditionally work in much larger structures and the chance to create a form without machines/tools (and sanding!) was very appealing and intriguing.

Guy Parmenter

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