Tessellation Time

Hexagon-based tessellations are great backgrounds for clocks, as the divisions can align with the hour markers. I've starting making clocks with this in mind.

After making several clocks, I've written up some thoughts about how this can be used to display origami tesselations.

Tessellumination Clock: Cosmos Chains

I've been exploring more and more in the tessellumination space and this inevitably leads to more clocks. Cosmos Chains provided a lot of space for backlight experimentation, as different finishings on the underside created a variety of effects. It also has no pleat drift, so all the flowers cleanly align to denote the hour markers. For the clock, I settled on a variation that softly accentuates the hexagon gaps between flower molecules.

Pink lokta, 50cm diameter hexagon, 64-triangle grid. Installed in a 12" wooden frame with LED strip backlighting. October 2026.

The normal view, with two rings of flowers.

The backlit view, with the hexagon gaps between flowers emphasized.

Tessellumination Clock: Sunken Swirl Trihex Weave

This clock is internally backlit like some of my tesselluminations, allowing for the layering to be viewed. The sunken swirl trihex weave also has no pleat drift, allowing for a straightforward alignment of hour markers. The top hexagon is exposed and colored to differentiate it from all other hours so you always know where 12 is.

Light green tant, 36cm diameter hexagon, 48 triangle grid. August 2026.

The normal view, which shows the top face of the pattern.

The backlit view, which shows the layering of the pattern. The dark area in the center is due to the clock mechanism.

Star Windows

I've always wanted to turn Star Windows into a clock, as there is no pleat drift between molecules. This makes hour marker alignments easier to manage.

In this initial version I did not insert extra paper into the windows. This allows the focus to be on the tessellation itself instead of embellishments.

Light blue tant, 36cm diameter hexagon, 36 triangle grid. July 2026.

The second version I used a patterned paper to emphasize the window shapes.

Dark blue tant, 36cm diameter hexagon, 36 triangle grid. Blue/light blue floral patteren inserts. August 2026.

Hub and Spoke 2

This simple weave pattern is an open triangle twist flagstone on the back side. The closed hexagon twists for the hour markers were pinwheeled to make them distinct from the other hexagon twists.

Dark green tant. 36cm diameter hexagon, 48 triangle grid. July 2026.

The clock mounted in a white shadowbox frame.

Cog in the Clock (12 Jewels edition)

Cog in the Machine features star puffs so tightly packed that their tips interlock, sort of like gears. Here the hour markers were colored with red metallic marker as a nod to the red jewels (artificial sapphires) in a mechanical watch, which are used as bearings to reduce friction amongst watch parts.

Metallic silver mulberry paper, 50cm diameter hexagon, 64 triangle grid. June 2026.

The tessellation with the clock hands on top to check for size.

The clock, mounted in a black shadowbox frame.

Citrus Slices

Each molecule of Citrus Slices includes 12 diamond pips. By coloring an increasing number of pips, the hour marker can be explicitly marked.

Dark red biotope, ~40cm diameter hexagon, 64 triangle grid. March 2026.

An initial test on dark red biotope, with silvered pips.

The final tessellation uses metallic green on the colored pips to provide contrast. This is in a temporary cardboard housing.