Domino, like dice and playing cards, is a versatile game. It can be used to build intricate, three-dimensional structures or to create simple designs in the flat. It can be played with one or many players, and scoring is determined by counting the dots on the dominoes in the losing player’s hand. It can even be used to simulate the action of a card game, such as piquet or Mexican train.
Dominos can be arranged to make patterns, letters and numbers; they can also be stacked up to form walls, pyramids or towers. Artists, architects and engineers use them to plan complex projects. They can also be arranged to create stunning visual effects or to act as a backdrop for live performances such as domino shows, in which builders compete to build the most elaborate and imaginative chain reaction of dominoes before an audience.
A domino is a rectangular tile with a line down the middle that separates it into two square ends, each of which bears an arrangement of spots, called pips. There are a variety of different designs, but most sets have a single type of end that contains an even number of pips. Some sets are known as double-six sets because they have six pips on each end (though there are also extended-dot sets with more pips, up to a maximum of double-18).
When a domino is knocked over, it triggers an effect, causing more and more tiles to fall over in a sequence. The first domino, known as the starting point, is set up in a careful way to ensure that it will tip over when a nudge is applied. The rest of the dominoes are then added in a precise sequence, with each new piece adding to the force that will cause the whole chain to tip over.
Hevesh makes test versions of each domino she plans to construct before putting them all together. Then she films them in slow motion to check that they work as intended. “When you’re dealing with thousands of individual pieces, there’s a lot of potential energy in each domino,” she says. “If you want it to work, you have to nudge it in just the right way.”
When Hevesh adds new sections to her display, she’ll film them again in slow-motion to confirm that they function as planned. If she finds a flaw, she’ll adjust the positioning of the pieces to correct it. She often repeats this process until all the dominoes in her design are perfect. This enables her to create a stunning piece that will stand up to the elements and withstand crowds of eager fans. It’s a remarkable feat, but one that demonstrates an important lesson about storytelling.