Michel de Broin

Tensile Body is a monumental sculpture based on the principle of tensegrity, a structural system in which elements in compression and tension work together to create a form that is simultaneously lightweight, stable, and resilient. The tubular branches that compose the sculpture appear to float in space, held together solely by a network of cables that distributes forces throughout the entire structure. No element can be removed without compromising the balance of the whole: every component is essential.

Unlike conventional tensegrity models developed by engineers, which generally rely on standardized, perfectly straight industrial profiles, Tensile Body begins with tree branches collected in the forest. Each branch possesses its own curvature, irregularities, and history. The project seeks to create an underlying order from these seemingly formless natural elements, bringing them into relationship until an equilibrium capable of producing an overall harmony emerges. The sculpture originated as a 1:10 scale model assembled from the original branches and was later translated into a monumental work through the fabrication of bent and welded stainless-steel tubes that faithfully reproduce their organic forms.

This organization is directly inspired by living systems. In the human body, bones do not function independently; they are held in balance by muscles, tendons, and connective tissues that continuously distribute tension throughout the body. Stability arises not from rigidity but from a dynamic equilibrium between opposing forces. Tensile Body transposes this biomechanical principle into sculpture, transforming tensegrity into a metaphor for the way living organisms, communities, and ecosystems are shaped through relationships rather than isolated individual parts.

The sculpture is based on an icosahedral tensegrity structure, renowned for its mechanical efficiency. Inspired by geometries found throughout the natural world, this structural system distributes forces evenly while using a minimal amount of material. The compression members appear suspended in space, while the tensile cables absorb and redistribute loads, giving the structure remarkable adaptability and resilience.

A constant tension between apparent fragility and actual stability runs throughout the work. The branching forms evoke vegetation, limbs, and biological networks alike, creating an organic structure that seems to grow naturally. The sculpture reveals the invisible forces that hold things together, suggesting that the strength of any system depends less on the power of its individual components than on the quality of the relationships that connect them.

Presented within the framework of the 2024 Shanghai Jing’an International Sculpture Project under the theme “Echoes Among Us”, Tensile Body reflects the complex relationships linking individuals, infrastructures, and natural environments. The sculpture becomes an image of the contemporary city, where visible and invisible networks make the coexistence of diverse elements possible. It invites reflection on interdependence, cooperation, and diversity, while suggesting that the balance of any system depends upon the active participation of each of its components.

Through this work, tensegrity transcends its structural function to become a sculptural language. It offers a physical representation of balance, trust, and mutual support, transforming an engineering principle into a meditation on the invisible forces that organize both living systems and human societies.

 

Curator : Yoojin Tang, Jing Cheng and all the team from UCCA Lab

With the artists : Claudia Comte, Daniel Buren, George Rickey, Lucy Orta & Jorge Orta, Marc Fornes, Marion Verboom, Oliver Laric, Pablo Reinoso, Spencer Hansen, Steve Messam, Tom Claassen , Tony Cragg, Yuri Suzuki, Cao Shuyi, Feng Zhixuan, Liang Hao, Nabuqi, Shi Hui, Wang Hua, Nabuqi, Xiang Huidi, Yan Shilin, Yang Mushi, Camille Henrot