Reflection
This final module was the most creative one and I enjoyed incorporating elements of my story into the city. By combining all of the skills in Adobe CC and Rhino, it was very interesting to see how the work progressed through different software. Learning the importance of frame in representation helped me to shape my perspectives, which required some experimentation to get the right angle and zoom. The frame acts as a "window" of space, limiting an infinte space into a finite one and directing the viewer's gaze to the intended subject. The field is equally important, especially with the addition of notation, because it then becomes an allographic practice that can be interpreted authentically. Without the notations, my isometric would have been mostly devoid of meaning, so the important of accurate and sufficient notation cannot be understated. Overall, this module served as a good wrap-up of the entire subject whilst imparting the last few, crucial points of representation.
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TRADING CITIES: CHLOE
Italo Calvino, Invisible Cities (1972)
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Chloe: the city of isolation. That is the general atmosphere I felt when reading this extract. Because any and all interactions are superficial and have no meaning, the city feels busy on the surface with all of its charactrs, yet at its core the city is dysfunctional, where everyone purposefully ignores each others' existences and lives in their own worlds. Even though some may gather at the "band in the square", any resulting interaction is implied as being imagined, "without a word exchanged...". I wanted to capture these surfaces interactions and the truth of alienation simultaneously in my isometrics and perspectives.
ISOMETRIC
Making the model and adding the notations was quite a fun part of this module because it allowed for a lot of creative freedom.
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To express the contrasting sides of Chloe, I modelled one half of the city based on the "carousel of fantasies" to represent the chaotic and self-perpetuating nature of the inhabitants isolating themselves in their own little worlds. The other half would represent the gathering of crowds towards a central point, the "band in the square".
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With the notation, it would also contrast symbolically. The clear, unbroken direction notation would lead into the notation-heavy (and thus significant) "square", which is very different from the unsure, messy direction lines of the other half. Another feature is the glance arrows scattered across the city pointing in random directions, but the gaze arrows all point towards the square, signifying its importance in the city and in the people's viewpoints.
5pm-8pm
DAILY
First version of isometric
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Final isometric
PERSPECTIVE 1
The gathering
In this perspective, I wanted to capture how the city would interact with the central "band in the square". It would be slightly zoomed out to give the impression of an open, welcoming city. In later renders, the foundations of the square was also exposed to give the square more stability. Elements like the ivy helped to give the scene a sense of life and vitality because it is here that the residents of Chloe are (allegedly) socially nourished. Yet, note how the characters are still separated: this shows how even though they are gathered together, any 'interaction' between them would be "without a word exchanged."
First render
Last render
First render
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By having the frame centrally focus on this character, the characters' (and the viewer's) attention is drawn to the band member, highlighting their importance. The sun rays emanating from behind him and illuminating the figures also paint him as more of a godly figure, with the steps ascending to meet him.
Moreoever, the wash of the perspective is excitement, mirroring the residents' anticipation for the music. The frame also shows the columns levitating towards the centre, further incorporating the architecture of the scene with the theme of gathering.
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PERSPECTIVE 2
The scattering
First render
Final render
First render
Here, I wanted to create a perspective that would contrast the first as much as possible, revealing the cold, isolated reality of Chloe. By using a night setting, dead ivy and cracked blocks, the elements would be the opposite and reveal the deterioration of Chloe, both physically and socially. I was able to explore more of the "vibration" here as well, shifting blocks slightly to give a rippling feel to the scene. This gives the scene some instability, directly contrasting with Perspective 1.
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Under my tutor's advice, framing the scene in rough thirds produced a more engaging effect that focused the characters in the middle and background, helped by experimenting with blur and depth of field in the foreground. Since the characters are scattered across the frame in their own isolated world, there is also an absence of a central focus.
The tension wash here is reflected in the imminent destruction of Chloe (in the cracks), as well as the clear avoidance of interaction between the characters.
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FINAL PERSPECTIVES
Gather / scatter
" ... when they happen to find themselves together ..."
"... they imagine a thousand things about one another ..."
" ... when they happen to find themselves together ..."