How can a flat sheet of paper become a complex, three-dimensional form? At EDIT Napoli, artist and independent researcher Alison Grace Martin invites participants to explore the relationship between geometry, craftsmanship, and the structures found in nature through a hands-on exploration of woven 3D shapes.

Inspired by the fragility and beauty of flowers and shells, the workshop focuses on the elegant curved structures found in the natural world. Participants will explore hyperbolic, or negatively curved, geometries and learn how smooth saddle curves can emerge from the simple act of weaving. Using paper as the most accessible and minimal material, they will transform flat surfaces into intricate three-dimensional forms.

The workshop offers a different approach to digital design. While coding and weaving share a fascinating connection — both translating systems, patterns, and rules into forms — Alison proposes a slower, tactile route to 3D design. Rather than creating entirely on a screen, participants will discover geometry through their hands, learning by experimenting, folding, weaving, and constructing.

The result is an intuitive introduction to complex geometry, where mathematical principles become tangible through making. A simple sheet of paper becomes the starting point for discovering how structure, material, and movement can come together to create unexpected forms.

About Alison Grace Martin

Alison Grace Martin is an artist and independent researcher based in Italy. Her work focuses on the analysis of geometry and topology as revealed in traditional weaving patterns, resulting in lightweight, flexible structures across diverse scales.
In collaboration with the Geometric Computing Lab. at EPFL, Lausanne she has built and installed lightweight sculptures and bamboo structures at the architectural scale. She has conducted workshops and presented her work in the USA (at MIT), Japan (University of Tokyo and Kyushu University), and at various universities and design schools across the UK and Europe.

Duration: 3 hours
Participants: Up to 12

When:
Saturday, October 10, 2026 | 3:00 PM
Sunday, October 11, 2026 | 3:00 PM

Where:
La Santissima, Naples