Domino is a game that requires precise planning and execution. A tiny nudge of one domino can cause it to fall and set off a chain reaction. The same principle applies to domino art: one brilliantly planned display can inspire awe in viewers. Lily Hevesh, 20, has been making dominoes since she was 9. She’s now a professional who creates mind-blowing displays for movies, TV shows, and even an event for Katy Perry.
Hevesh says she starts each project with a theme or purpose in mind. Then she brainstorms ideas for images or words that might convey that message. She tests each section of the display individually to make sure it’s perfect. Her largest setups can take several nail-biting minutes to fall. She’s worked on projects involving as many as 300,000 dominoes.
Once she’s satisfied with the individual sections, Hevesh brings them together. She says she follows a sort of engineering-design process. “I’m trying to figure out how everything can fit together in a way that’s beautiful,” she says. “And then I just let gravity take over.”
The earliest domino sets had only 28 tiles, but they soon became more varied. Today’s domino sets come in a variety of shapes and colors. They can have square or round edges and be made of plastic, wood, metal, or ceramic. Some sets are designed to look like historical buildings or other landmarks. Others are shaped like animals, people, or vehicles. Each tile has a unique pattern of spots or pips that distinguish it from other tiles in the same set.
While domino has been used for games of skill and chance, its most common use is as a learning tool. Counting the pips on a domino is an excellent way to practice addition and multiplication. Other educational uses include recognizing numbers and learning how to spell, write, and read.
Hevesh has created an impressive array of domino sets, including some that are three-dimensional. She’s also worked on some that combine domino with light-up LEDs and other materials. She’s even helped create a Guinness World Record for the longest domino chain.
In the comics, Domino first appeared in X-Force #37. She was a member of the team until she was captured by a Prime Sentinel called Ekaterina Gryaznova, who implanted her with a neural blocker that interfered with her synaptic relays and cut off her powers and coordination. She left the team, but later re-joined when she was possessed by a malevolent spirit called Aentaros. Aentaros wanted Domino to kill Randall Shire, another mutant who was possessed by a different Undying.
While a few X-Force members have gotten their own dominoes, Domino is one of the best known and most popular. Her story has touched on themes of family, forgiveness, and tragedy. She’s also been involved in a number of high-profile bank robberies and foiled attempts to destroy the Weapon X Program. After a time, Dom reunited with her old teammate Cable in the 21st century.