Week 1: 3D

Sources of information for 3D Design was what set us off in search of the weird, wonderful and inspirational. As a class we researched and shared designs, artworks and artists such as Ron Mueck's giant human sculptures, Julian Beever's 3D street art and Theo Jansen's skeletal wind powered creatures. My search for inspiration and information continues...

Eric Daigh - Push Pin Artist 
Using just black, white, blue, red and yellow push pins, this artist can create amazingly tonal and expressive portraits. Sometimes more than 10,000 pins are used for any one work and looking at them close up reveals a pixel-like effect. A piece can take anywhere between 2 days and numerous months. www.trendhunter.com

Mark Khaisman - Packing Tape Portraits

These works of art are made out of translucent brown packing tape layered up on top of sheets of Plexiglas. I love the way Khaisman has just taken a simple household object and created works that almost look like sepia photos! Very effective. www.trendhunter.com

SA Shimmel Gold - Portraits From Junk Mail
Aside from the amazing mosaic effect this technique portrays, I really like the idea of recycling something like junk mail, which most people receive in their mailboxes everyday. www.shimmelart.com/collection.htm

With all the artists and designs explored so far, I love the fact that anyone, including myself, has all these simple/common materials at our fingertips. It is inspiring to know that we are just as capable to create such interesting and clever works. Now the question is: what commonplace, household objects could I use to create a masterpiece??


As for integrating designs into a 3D environment, I found the following works to be of interest:


Katie Sokoler - Guerrilla Street Shadows
This artist cuts out life size figures of herself and her partner (of what looks like sheets of black foam or cardboard) and then plasters them onto walls and city surfaces. She then waits for the right moment for a passer-by to be lined up with the shadow for the perfect photograph. A clever and subtle way to incorporate a flat 2D image into the 3D realm.

3D Street Art for Pedestrian Safety
Auckland City Council wanted to creatively raise awareness about the importance of pedestrian safety. In Auckland city 70% of road crashes involve pedestrians crossing the main roads. These 3D illustrations warn pedestrians of the dangers of crossing the road carelessly. Like Julian Beever's street art, I think these are very  clever and effective visually. I like the fact that these works have a purpose and they are in the perfect places to reach their intended audience.

And whilst on the idea of 3D chalk drawings, I think the music clip Strawberry Swing by Coldplay is one of the cleverest I have seen. It would be amazing to be a part of a team that together can execute such a feat through amazing drawings, artful perspective and photography. Below is the link to the clip for your perusal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYtk1Z0UUuE