The Pecking Order of Cones

2021

 

Cones crave order and purpose. Cones universally disrespect cylinders, noting coldly that cylinders have no point.

 

Truncated cones, having lost their points, thus find themselves far down in the pecking order of the cone world. To earn respect, truncated cones have learned to organize. As a result, they can do things together that pointed cones can never achieve.

 

With thoughtful organization, any number of truncated cones can roll around a shared, single point. If they all select the same taper angle, by carefully allocating base diameters among themselves they can all roll around each other and a single fixed point, without colliding. Try that, pointy cones!

 

This sculpture has a team of five truncated cones. They have organized themselves by careful selection of base diameters to function smoothly together. Through cooperation, they are showing the pointed cones out there how to really get things done.