Following up on the atlas sessions I will reverse the perspective and focus the team on a much smaller area to really start fleshing out designs. Starting out I want to collect our previously gathered material on cybernetics and discuss. One proposed method would be to create a timeline to describe the fictional speculative history …
Kind of blue
In 1959 Miles Davis spent two days in the studio with a band recording the album “Kind of Blue”, now considered one of the cornerstone records in jazz, and 20th century music in general. In the liner notes pianist Bill Evans wrote: “There is a Japanese visual art in which the artist is forced to …
The bricoleur vs the engineer
On “The Savage Mind, chapter one: The Science of the Concrete” by Claude Levi-Strauss (1962) Summary In the first chapter of his book “The Savage Mind”, Claude Levi-Strauss distinguishes two different approaches towards acquiring knowledge. He explains how primitive societies used ‘mythical thought’ – or what Levi-Strauss calls ‘science of the concrete’ – to make …
Blade Runner and the auteur theory
When exploring authorship in the context of cinema, there is no getting around the auteur theory. The auteur theory came out of the ideas developed during the nouvelle-vague in France by the likes of Francois Truffaut: that the director can be seen as the major creative force and to some extent sole author of a …
Life after the atlas, the next step.
After working with the team to develop two versions of the ‘Atlas of Rotterdam in 2070’ I lost a bit of momentum. Although the Atlas sessions were very powerful in bringing the team together and provoking conversations, it did not ‘magically’ lead to actual design decisions. So what can I take away from the Atlas …
On material consciousness
On “The Craftsman” (Richard Sennett) Chapter 4: Material Consciousness In The Craftsman Richard Sennett explores the the idea of craftsmanship, the desire to do a job well for its own sake – as a template for living. Very broadly speaking the book deals with the integration of thinking and making. In the chapter about material …
Developing the Atlas further
In spring of 2017 I created the Atlas of Rotterdam in 2070. This document was an attempt to curate and bundle the outcomes of a team session exploring our thoughts and ideas for the world in which to set ‘Fight’, a science fiction feature film that is being developed. I discussed the outcome with the …
On digital drawing
ON DIGITAL DRAWING Introduction Birgitta Hosea is an animation artist, curator and practice-based researcher working in the field of animation and moving images. She is also Course Director for the MA Character Animation at the Royal College of Arts in London and PhD supervisor at Central Saint Martins. Summary In her article ‘Drawing Animation’ she …
Hidden Design
In august we spent a week with Bureau Buitengewone Zaken, to experience their hidden design method. During the week we were challenged to design and develop interventions aimed at testing our questions, engaging with participants and collecting data to further feed our research. The first day was spent mapping our objectives as a starting point …
Personal motivation
Personal Motivation: As a visual effects designer and colourist for cinema, I work in a landscape that is dominated by large facilities with dozens, or even hundreds of employees with a high degree of specialism. You only need to look at the endcredits of a typical hollywood movie to get an impression. As a result, …
Poster essay july 2017
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Subjective Atlas
As part of my research I developed a prototype of a subjective atlas. This atlas could be the starting point of a ‘world bible’ to develop the design of the world of “FIGHT” a science fiction film that is currently in development. Written and directed by Simon Pummell. Although the actual questions this atlas explores …
Subjective Atlas: preparation
For the Subjective Atlas I want to combine multiple aspects of my research into one exercise: CONTEXT: For the science fiction film ‘Fight’ – loosely based on a short story William Gibson (of Neuromancer fame) I will be designing and creating the futuristic world in which a classic boxing narrative takes place. This film is …
London 2017
In april 2017 I spent a couple of days in London on a short excursion. I am still processing my impressions and collecting my thoughts on the experience but I will try to briefly summarize the first results from the trip: INTERVIEWS WITH VFX PROFESSIONALS I conducted two interviews with visual effects artists that work …
Critical Reading 01
Session summary When using a text as part of a research project it’s important to be able to judge the origins and context of the text. Especially now that texts are so easily published and spread, the quality of texts available is wildly variable. Who wrote this? And what makes him or her an authority …
Concept Art for Ghost in the Shell
With the release of the live-action remake of Ghost In The Shell (after the original anime from 1995) the internet is ablaze with material and documentation. In the wake of the premiere a lot of contributors are now releasing work they have contributed to the film in one way or the other. I stumbled upon …
Source: “Swimming with Sharks”
Trygve Allister Diesen is a Norwegian film director. Out of frustration with having his vision for his films compromized by (his words) ‘sharks’ he started a research project as a fellow of the Norwegian Film School. He has published a video essay in six parts documenting this process. Below I will summarize the episodes briefly …
Inspiration: “Spectacle, Speculation, Spam”
I found this video essay a while ago. The content is relevant to my question in a couple of ways – but even more, I like the way it’s presented in the form of a video essay. I imagine a similar form might be really suitable for developing and shaping my research.
Source: “The Craftsman” – Richard Sennett
My father was a carpenter and woodworker, as were both my grandfathers. I grew up in the wood workshop and have been tinkering my whole life. No wonder that I feel that thinking cannot be separated from making – and the dialogue between the hands and the brain is what shapes my work. Even though …
Context: the state of visual effects
On february 24 2013 Life of Pi won four Oscar awards, out of 10 nominations. The award for ‘Best Visual Effects’ went to the team at Rhythm & Hues. But Rhythm & Hues filed for bankruptcy a month before. In recent years the biggest box-office successes can be categorized as ‘effects-heavy’ movies (www.boxofficemojo.com). Just in …