Dominoes – More Than Just a Game Piece
Domino, the flat, thumb-sized rectangular block used as a game piece in many games. Also called bones, cards, men, or pieces, dominoes are typically twice as long as they are wide and may bear a pattern of spots or dots on both faces. Each side of the domino can be assigned a value from one to six, or blank. The dominoes can be stacked on end in long lines. When a domino is tipped over, it causes the next domino to tip and so on in a chain of events known as the “domino effect.” Dominoes can also be laid out in 2-D patterns and 3-D arrangements.
Invented in China in the 1300s, dominoes are cousins of playing cards and have been used for a wide variety of games. They have been arranged and knocked over to create stunning works of art, as well as used for educational purposes and to help develop motor skills in children. The markings on a domino’s face, called pips, were originally the results of throwing two six-sided dice.
The most famous use of dominoes in modern times involves the game of dominoes, which is played by laying down a single tile, then stacking other tiles on top of it so that they form a line or other shape. Players take turns placing a domino edge to edge against another, usually until the line or shape is complete. Then the player scores points based on the number of squares in the domino.
Dominoes can be used for a variety of games, including drawing and matching, counting, and calculating. In addition, they can be stacked in elaborate designs that challenge the player to create something mind-boggling. They can also be used to teach basic math concepts such as number recognition and simple addition.
For Hevesh, who often uses the word domino to refer to a larger project, she goes through a sort of engineering-design process to design her installations. First, she thinks about the theme of the work and brainstorms images or words that might be appropriate. She then tries to make an arrangement that will match her ideas. She tests the biggest sections in a mock-up before putting them together, filming each test in slow motion so that she can correct any mistakes as quickly as possible.
When she lays out a large arrangement, she starts with the largest 3-D sections and then moves on to the flat ones. She takes care to lay out her dominoes so that the larger ones can be supported by the smaller ones. Once her layout is complete, she often takes photos of it to record the process and then uploads the photographs onto a computer where she can tweak them. She also often makes a video of the whole installation in action to share it online and inspire others. This method of working allows her to create her mind-blowing creations much faster than if she worked from scratch each time.