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Desmond Zee

4D

Physical models of a fourth spatial dimension

2023

The question of 4D space came from reading on Roger Penrose’s belief that human consciousness originates from the quantum physics phenomenon of the collapse of the wave function. 4D is an exploration into visualising spatial dimensions that are physically (as far as we understand) impossible.

To imagine a 4D space in 3D, there must be a fourth plane at a right-angle to all other 3 planes - this is impossible in 3D space. However, it is also impossible to have the correct number of right angles when drawing 3D space in 2 dimensions, yet we all use the trick of perspective daily. The human brain must imagine the 4th dimension and this is the premise for the project.

Section through the model: coloured planes stacked on a slender stand
Elevation of the model: coloured planes cantilevered from an upright frame
Pencil drawing of two interlocking open prisms