Bento Boxes are four panel pattern generators. Each panel may exist in two states ("right side up" / "upside down"), in two positions ("left" / "right"), and on two levels ("top" / "bottom"), however they may only move levels in pairs.

There are two methods olo follows when compiling a bento box, a 'loose' and a 'tight' way. The loose way involves marking only the entrance and exit points of lines as they cross from panel to panel, then drawing each piece separately without referencing the other panels. The tight method involves compiling all four panels in parallel, continuously putting them through permutations in the drawing phase. The tight method tends to give more obvious patterns while the loose method offers happy accidents.

A demonstration set of bento boxes which show their recombinations, as well as three approaches to spotting patterns

Orin

20cm X 13cm X 4, 2003, ink on watercolour paper, silicone sealant, wood hanging frame

Hal

20cm X 13cm X 4, 2003, ink on watercolour paper, silicone sealant, wood hanging frame

Mario

20cm X 13cm X 4, 2003, ink on watercolour paper, silicone sealant, wood hanging frame

gas station gertie
stops pumpin’when she’s full

2001, four 38cm X 25.5cm, ink on watercolour paper, hemlock wood frame, silicone sealant

The following series follow a single panel through it's various places. The upper left panel in the picture above, is rotated, shifted, and switched through all of it's placements.