My chosen theme for the project is manufactured structures, specifically photographs of urban environments. I like the impact of structures on the environment and what the impact is on people living in the environment. Exploring the shapes of buildings, their intrinsic beauty, but also how buildings can challenge the people around them. Some buildings are specifically designed to have classical proportions although others are more ugly, but then become beautiful because of this. However, photographs can bring their own art, through how they are composed; the textures that are brought together, shadows and shades, the way the focal point can vary, where the eye is drawn in; blurring of clear lines, and different parts being made clearer.
For my final piece I have decided to create my own manufactured structure with the influence of the city of London, since all my photo-shoots are based in London and include the most beautiful places in London, as well as some of the abandoned areas that may seem dirty and unwanted, and damaged buildings. However, all these places are what make London, London. I tried to photograph all the areas whether they are beautiful or not because they are all worthy of a picture and have a story behind it.
I began my artist research by looking into a couple of the photographers given as examples for the topic of manufactured structures. The photographers I initially researched were Paul Strand and Lewis Baltz. When researching Paul Strand I noticed that in most of his images, he composes the images to include a lot of geometric shapes and lines. In response to Strand, I took a set of many geometric buildings and structures. I really liked the way the images came out, as they worked really well as a set, from the flowing lines and shapes. From Strand's work I learned I could take images of architecture in a naturalistic way, but follow his theme of abstractions by taking more time to compose my images to emphasise the geometric shapes in the frame.
From researching Lewis Baltz it was clear though his work, he focused on more minimalist compositions, unlike Paul Strand's work. Baltz's work focuses on the threshold concepts of; contrast, texture and geometric shapes (like Paul Strand). For my response images to his work I took images of wall surfaces to highlight the contrast in textures. I didn't take into consideration geometric shapes, as I had done that with Strand, however I did try to make the images quite minimal locations, but have quite a lot going on in the images. One thing I have learnt from Lewis Baltz from his minimalistic images, is that to create good images doesn't mean they always have to be complex.
After looking at these photographers, I was interested in finding a photographer who took images of everyday buildings, but made the images abstract in a very simplistic way, this led me to finding the artist Alexander Rodchenko. From his extreme high and low angles, he shows some overlooked buildings from a variety of perspectives. From his work it inspired me to take more time when taking my images, to focus on extreme angles. By experimenting with this style of photography, I learnt that it could make the building or structure less recognisable from the unusual angle it was taken at. Out of all the photographers I had looked at so far, Rodchenko's style of work inspired me the most to take another set of images in response to him. Therefore I revised his technique of angles, with a further 2 sets of images and I learned how to use it in a way, which emphasised the dramatic low angles specifically.
For my final piece I have decided to create my own manufactured structure with the influence of the city of London, since all my photo-shoots are based in London and include the most beautiful places in London, as well as some of the abandoned areas that may seem dirty and unwanted, and damaged buildings. However, all these places are what make London, London. I tried to photograph all the areas whether they are beautiful or not because they are all worthy of a picture and have a story behind it.
I began my artist research by looking into a couple of the photographers given as examples for the topic of manufactured structures. The photographers I initially researched were Paul Strand and Lewis Baltz. When researching Paul Strand I noticed that in most of his images, he composes the images to include a lot of geometric shapes and lines. In response to Strand, I took a set of many geometric buildings and structures. I really liked the way the images came out, as they worked really well as a set, from the flowing lines and shapes. From Strand's work I learned I could take images of architecture in a naturalistic way, but follow his theme of abstractions by taking more time to compose my images to emphasise the geometric shapes in the frame.
From researching Lewis Baltz it was clear though his work, he focused on more minimalist compositions, unlike Paul Strand's work. Baltz's work focuses on the threshold concepts of; contrast, texture and geometric shapes (like Paul Strand). For my response images to his work I took images of wall surfaces to highlight the contrast in textures. I didn't take into consideration geometric shapes, as I had done that with Strand, however I did try to make the images quite minimal locations, but have quite a lot going on in the images. One thing I have learnt from Lewis Baltz from his minimalistic images, is that to create good images doesn't mean they always have to be complex.
After looking at these photographers, I was interested in finding a photographer who took images of everyday buildings, but made the images abstract in a very simplistic way, this led me to finding the artist Alexander Rodchenko. From his extreme high and low angles, he shows some overlooked buildings from a variety of perspectives. From his work it inspired me to take more time when taking my images, to focus on extreme angles. By experimenting with this style of photography, I learnt that it could make the building or structure less recognisable from the unusual angle it was taken at. Out of all the photographers I had looked at so far, Rodchenko's style of work inspired me the most to take another set of images in response to him. Therefore I revised his technique of angles, with a further 2 sets of images and I learned how to use it in a way, which emphasised the dramatic low angles specifically.
PLAN
I began by using building blocks to construct and visualise what I want and in the shape I want to make it. I had to decide on the exact shapes I want them to be and whether or not it will be possible to make using paper. I also calculated how many cubes, cuboids, rectangular prims and triangular prisms I need.
3D PAPER MODELLING
Later on, I printed each net on A3 paper, and stuck it onto my kaleidoscope patterns and then began to fold them and glue them together. However, some of the problems I faced were that the paper was too weak to be put on top of each other especially if I want to be making a big building and use a lot of the 3D shapes. I also was not happy with the size of each shape because they were smaller than what I wanted them to be. It is also difficult to see the patterns.
2D DESIGN NETS
Due to the difficulties that I faced with creating my structures using paper, I decided to use the laser cutter to produce my shapes. In order to use the paper cutter, I had to first draw my desired shapes on to 2D Design. This was quite difficult because I had to get the measurements to be exact when drawing the nets of each shape. I also had to consider where I wanted the windows to be and how big I wanted them to be. After mounting 35 kaleidoscope prints onto A1 thick card. I placed it into the laser cutter and cut all my shapes. I slightly changed the way I first modelled my building blocks because I wanted more complicated shapes such as hexagonal prism and square based pyramids to make my final building look effective and interesting.
THE FINAL PIECE
Finally, after folding each net into its shape and using strong all purpose glue to glue it together, I began to rearrange the shapes into different ways to see which one represents the buildings in Westminster or the houses of Parliament and Big Ben.
My aim was to make a miniature version of London city and some of its buildings. Once I was happy with the way they have been organised, I began to use the hot glue gun and stick them down accurately and carefully. I used a big board to place by buildings onto and I chose for it to be dusty wood colour rather than paint or colour it because I wanted the main focus and attention to be on the buildings rather than add more colour to the floor which represents the pavements and roads. I used small rectangle shapes that also have patterns on to create paths.