Wanda Gillespie - 'Klein Bottle' Wooden Sculpture

The Klein bottle is a mathematical paradox-an impossible form that folds endlessly back on itself.

"I create flattened interpretations of the Klein bottle, exploring its elusive geometry through wood and chip carving. Interlocking triangular patterns evoke the hidden mathematics of nature, while the forms themselves hint at an idea that can never fully exist in our three-dimensional world. By reimagining traditional carving techniques in contemporary ways, I invite reflection on time, history, and the unseen structures that shape our understanding of reality."

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Wanda Gillespie is a contemporary artist based in Naarm, known for her bespoke wooden abaci that reinterpret the ancient counting device through a modern lens. Her sculptural works explore themes of value, measurement systems, and the intersection of the material and mystical. In An Abacus for Mystical Reckoning (Orchid), Gillespie draws inspiration from native Australian orchids endemic to Tasmania and Victoria, abstracting their forms into the brass workings of her abacus sculptures. This piece reflects on the fragility of these threatened species and prompts contemplation on how human-driven systems of value and economy impact the natural world.

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Material: Jelutong, Acrylic paint, wax sealer

Dimensions: approx. 29 x 24 x 7cm