Physical · layered acrylic

Purple Chimp

Four sheets of the same translucent purple acrylic. Head-on it reads as a flat print; step to the side and it comes apart.

Interactive 3D model, built from the real cutting filesOpen full screen ↗

The thinking

from the planning

Where the sheets overlap the colour deepens, so four identical sheets give four tones. Each layer is cut away a little more than the one behind it, building the face from silhouette to deep shadow.

  • One colour, four tonesDepth of colour comes only from how many sheets overlap.
  • Eye highlights cut through all fourStand square-on at eye height and the highlights line up, so the piece snaps into a single image.
  • Loose strands floatThe finest hair on layer 4 is held on clear rods.

Updates

Full journal →
Purple Chimp · Finished

Four sheets, one chimp

The piece is hung. Here is how four identical sheets of purple acrylic make four tones, and why the eye highlights go right through.