Intricately Cut Wood Blocks Pieced Together to Mimic the Blooming Beauty of Coral Reefs

Joshua Abarbanel pieces together precise wood segments to form radiating coral reefs. The artist first creates undulating patterns on a computer, followed by laser-cutting assorted wood chunks and hand-assembling them into his complex final products. Drawing inspiration for his artwork from aspects of the ever-changing natural world, his wooden sculptures highlight how separate components can come together to make beautiful wholes.

Evocative of the natural complexity found in underwater coral reef clusters, Abarbanel's pieces also call to mind the ordered gears of a machine. Through the use of machinery-cut wood bits, he creates final sculptures that appear to organically bloom and grow outwards. Despite the static materials he uses, each of Abarbanel's pieces possess a dynamic fluidity and intricacy. The artist presents a precision of pattern, repeated throughout his wall structures, with seemingly great ease and has now translated the inspired visuals as freestanding sculptures, in a series he refers to as Hulls.

Abarbanel currently has an exhibition of his fascinating reef works at Porch Gallery in Ojai, California through May 29, 2016.