Creative Solutions in Contemporary Sculpture Based on TRIZ Principles Inspired by Najdi Ornamentation

Abstract

Abstract:

This study investigates the potential of generating creative solutions in contemporary sculpture through the principles of the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ), by reinterpreting a triangular geometric unit derived from Najdi architectural ornamentation. The study employs a descriptive-analytical approach to examine the theoretical foundations of TRIZ, identify principles relevant to sculptural practice, and analyze the formal characteristics of the heritage source, alongside an experimental approach in the applied component. Five TRIZ principles were selected as guides for formal transformation: Extraction, Consolidation, Spheroidality, Dynamicity, and Another Dimension. The experiment involved extracting the triangular geometric unit from Najdi architectural ornamentation and reorganizing it according to the selected principles. ChatGPT and Gemini were employed as generative AI tools to assist in exploring initial visual concepts, which were subsequently analyzed, selected, reformulated, and developed by the researcher. The experiment resulted in five proposed sculptural concepts demonstrating the diverse formal potential of the triangular unit through repetition, consolidation, transformation into spherical forms, transition from two-dimensional organization to volumetric and spatial relationships, and changes in orientation and spatial configuration. The findings further indicate that variations in the primary TRIZ principle and its mode of application contributed to the diversity of the resulting sculptural solutions, and that a single principle may lead to different formal outcomes depending on the organizational approach and the researcher’s artistic decisions. The study concludes that TRIZ principles can serve as methodological guides for formal transformation and experimentation in contemporary sculpture, enabling heritage-inspired visual elements to be reinterpreted in contemporary sculptural solutions while maintaining a visual connection to their cultural source without direct reproduction.