Dominoes are small, rectangular pieces of material that form a linked chain by resting one on top of another. They are normally twice as long as they are wide, with a line or ridge in the middle to divide them visually into two squares. Each square is marked with an arrangement of spots or pips, similar to those on a die. Usually, each domino has a different number of pips on either side, but some are blank. The sum of the pips on each side determines the value of a domino, which may be referred to as its rank or weight. The player with the heaviest domino is considered to be in first place, and may choose his seat at the table by drawing a tile from the stock after it is shuffled.
The way that dominoes are set up and the rules that govern them provide a small but important part of the enjoyment of the game. The resulting chains are visually pleasing and, if the rules of a given game allow for it, may be used to score points. Often, however, players prefer to focus more on the fun of playing and less on winning.
Most domino games involve the use of a set of tiles, called a double-six set. These are shuffled and then laid out in front of the players to form a “boneyard” or “stock.” Each player draws seven dominoes from the stock. The first player to draw a domino with matching ends makes the first play of the game. This play is referred to as a “set” or “the down.” The word “lead” is also sometimes used in place of the term lead.
When a domino falls, it sends a pulse of energy out through the entire chain. This energy travels at a constant speed, does not lose power along the way and can only be transmitted from domino to domino in one direction. In this way, it is a lot like the firing of a nerve impulse in your body.
Hevesh has developed her mind-boggling domino setups by using a version of the engineering-design process. She considers the theme or purpose of a particular installation, brainstorms images or words and then finds the best materials for bringing those ideas to life. She starts with a basic set of dominoes and then builds on that foundation, adding new elements to the existing chain until it becomes something completely different. In this way, she is creating new domino art every time she sets up a new installation. Hevesh’s work is not only beautiful, but it has a deep scientific connection to the way that our brains function. Her installations demonstrate the ability of a simple domino to trigger an enormous, complex chain reaction that can affect our lives in very profound ways.