Power of Limits: Proportional Harmonies in Nature, Art, and Architecture
by Gyorgy Doczi
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Book Summary Information
Author: Gyorgy DocziEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1981-08-12
ISBN: 0877731934
Number of pages: 150
Publisher: Shambhala
Book Reviews of Power of Limits: Proportional Harmonies in Nature, Art, and Architecture
Book Review: All about proportion, pattern, and harmony.
Summary: 5 Stars
For millenia, naturalists and artists have observed repeating geometrical patterns in natural objects. For example, many two- and three- dimensional structures (such as leaves and seashells) have dimensions that reflect the phi ratio, which is (approximately) 1 to 1.618034. This ratio, known amongst the Greeks as the Golden Mean, and used extensively in their sculpture and architecture, lends structural stability, as well as aesthetic balance, to objects into which it is incorporated.
In The Power of Limits, Doczi, an architect, explores some of these basic ratios underlying structures found in the universe-both natural and manmade. He provides beautiful graphics on each page--photographs, drawings, and diagrams, all in black and white. The images illustrate the concepts presented in the text. There is a lot here about dynamic symmetry and Fibonacci number relationships (which gave us the dimensions for the 8 1/2 x 11 inch page and the 3 x 5 index card). But Doczi also searches for the deeper principle which organizes the harmonic ratios of the Fibonacci numbers. His term for this principle is "dinergy." It is a combination of the Greek word "dia," meaning opposite, and "energy. " Dinergy refers to the generative power of the union of opposites, and according to Doczi, it organizes all the harmonic patterns which combine into physical forms. Each chapter explores dinergy in a different context, such as plants, crafts, animals, art, and philosophy.
While it is true that there are indeed repeating patterns that we can discern in nature, and which lend beauty to our man-made objects, there are those who have criticized the work of Doczi and his predecessors for engaging in a sort of "number mysticism" without scientific support. The concept of dinergy resembles the Taoists' Yin and Yang, the two opposite principles which animate each other and the cosmos. In this, Doczi's work does more resemble mysticism than science. The confusion arises because he uses natural forms to "prove" his theory, thus blurring the line between science and mysticism.
However, this is only a problem if you believe there should always be a line between those two fields. Sometimes, it's true, the twain ought not to meet, but there are other times--for instance, when the imagination needs activating-- when the union of those two opposites can be very fruitful. I find that the author's quest for the geometry of harmony takes me on a compelling journey into the beauty of the natural world, and within the confines of the book his arguments work.
Another criticism of Doczi's work is based on the fact that much of nature is chaotic, that is, having a deep organization that is not readily apprehended by the human mind. It's certainly true that we cannot reduce everything to these geometrical principles, without vastly oversimplifying the universe, nor should we want to do so. However, there is certainly much to be gained by appreciating harmony and order where we find it, and making use of it in our own designs. The Power of Limits serves as a primer for thinking about shape, ratio, natural form and aesthetics in the world that is readily apparent to our eyes.
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