Erica Chen: 2009

Friday, August 28, 2009

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Dear reader,
In retrospective of my time spent in the workshop "Fluid Thoughts to Action" hosted by the patient tutors Chrisse and Anton; I come to an assessment of my efforts and achievements.

Making an honest study of the Fourteen Drawings produced in the Four week timeframe, I believe myself to have tried my very best, considering my inept and naive hand at drawing.

However, I am most thankful and owe my newly discovered Passion and intrigue in Art to my two tutors.

As a result of the positive influences of this elective, I intend to take up drawing in the mediums of ink and charcoal as a hobby at my leisure.
It brings me such joy to look upon my creations-not for their beauty, for they are certainly not perfect-but rather for the truth that they represent.

I see my drawings as a sliver thought, a piece of imagination and a piece of myself. Its like stepping outside your own body and discovering how your mind really perceives the world. A truth hidden deep within the brambles of distraction that life brings.

Drawing I have discovered is a miraculous medium that alikens itself to meditation. Through it we focus on ourselves and our place in the world around us. It is a silent voice unique to all of us.

Now that I have an understanding of its power and intrinsic meaning I believe I can respect Drawing as a skill that needs to be nurtured and appreciated. If only to make my 'Silent Voice' in drawing more profound and alluring to my responders, I hope to work hard at this skill to better communicate my designs to my Design tutors and later to my clients.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Fluid Thoughts-WEEK THREE DRAWINGS

In the duration of the Four weeks, Chrissie and Anton have "gently introduced us" to the mediums of Charcoal and Ink. Being fully aware that most of us are very unfamiliar with drawing, they taught use to observe the world around us with a spatial and interpretive mind; in conjunction with seeing the world in light and shadow. And then to apply our thinking to hand and then to paper.

This representation form 3D to 2D on paper is truly very difficult. I find that with practice, the hand will produce what the mind perceives with more resolution. And inversely, the mind will be sharpened and more perceptive.

Techniques the tuturs have taught us to help us understand this connection include that of

Observational sketching of both interior and exterior environments,
blind contour drawings and Collage to better highlight the intrinsic geometryof the built environment and the
merging of two perspectives in a compositional layout to illustrate through transparancy the transience of time and place.

Drawing Twelve

Drawing Thirteen

Drawing Fourteen

Observational Drawings at the Museum of Sydney. Techniques employed include the consideration of Layout in Drawings Twelve and Thirteen; And also the exploration of transition through the merging of two perspectives in Drawing Fourteen.

Fluid Thoughts-WEEK TWO DRAWINGS

Drawing Five
Practice drawing done in class

Drawing Six
In class observational drawing of an arangement with ink dots.

Drawing Seven
Observational Drawing of my sisters' shoes.

Drawing Eight
Ink drawing of ornamental cat in front, side and back views. Exploring the nature of transition in ink.

Drawing Nine

Ink drawing of teapots and tea cups.

Drawing Ten
Mix of two mediums, ink and pencil. An observation of my kitchen.

Drawing Eleven
Ink drawing of a building in front and side views. Exploring the nature of change in position in a composition.

ARCH1142 COMMUNICATIONS-FLUID THOUGHTS TO ACTION

WEEK ONE DRAWINGS
Drawing One
First drawing done in class of an arrangement set up by the tutors. Techniques learnt include: the observation of light and shadows, and the appreciation of the 'Blind Contour' approach to drawing.

Drawing Two
Done in class, charcoal drawing demonstrates the skill of observation of the interior of classroom; as well as the importance of transience, movement and time. The picture presents two drawings overlapped and revealed in their transparancy.

Drawing Three
Collage of interiors aiming to illustrate basic forms, in relation to light and dark within a drawing.

Drawing Four

Done at home for homework of an interior space-my kitchen and dining room. Two techniques of drawing are utilised here: Obervational and Blind Contour in Charcoal.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Peer Evaluation

Mash-Up article

List of References:

B. Luscombe, The Power List, "Fashion Aueteur, True to her own eye" http://www.time.com/time/2004/style/020904/power/2.html Madonna,NYTimes.com (10/05/09)

Barack Obama,NYTimes.com (10/05/09)

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Google Sketch Up models

Madonna Elevator
The aim in the design of the elevator was to express Madonna's personality. From the knowledge gained from the Mash-Up I interpret Madonna to be a woman of grace. A woman of profound social standing, one who rules in her arena of Pop Culture. Withstanding the test of time. this woman has created in herself a modern legend.

Prada Elevator
After being stimulated by the Mash-Up, I interpret Prada to be in contrast to Madonna, a Feminist in her own right. She is a woman who refuses to accept "Femininity" as a concept conceived by the dominant white society. Rather she acknoledges graciously, the biological differences between men and woman, and chooses to be a woman in her own right. She knows and speaks her own mind; thereby expressing her individuality through her designs.

The Elevator in embodiment of this understanding then aims to convey strength and power; but in a subtle and delicate manner as the materiality chosen is glass.

Meeting Space
The meeting space then, as a cohesion between Madonna and Prada, aims to create a comprehension between the two women. It aims to recognise and embrace their differences; while intercommitantly creating tension between the two as their values and beliefs clash at the point of meeting.

The dining table was designed specifically to mimic the size and shape of a little girls' tea party dining set. This small table placed in the centre on an enourmous void of darkness, stipped of all colouring truly downplays the notion of Power in both parties. At the point of meeting, the two women come to the realisation that they are Powerful within their individual sectors of Pop Culture and Fashion but beyond those realms of knowledge they are rather Powerless in the secular sense. Both become rather powerless when matters relating to Political rule and the welfare of the country is concerned. Rather the two Personas cater to the spiritual and mental wellbeing of the people; aiming to provide entertainment and luxury to the people.

The round sections carved out of the table come to form a harness around the person sitting in it, almost like a handcuff but applied to the whole body. An air of interrogation is evoked by this feeling of entrapment. This further intensifies the "hostility" of the space.

36 Custom Textures

Left to right:
Linear,Rotational,Scaler,Periodic, Effervescent, Sporadic

Textures Used:

Rotational Texture rendered in Photoshop and applied to some pathways in Madonna Space. Aim was to create a floral and feminine atmosphere.

Scaler texture applied to Meeting space to create a checkered pattern. This is to emphasise the transition from the vibrant hues of red and blue in Madonna and Prada space to the total absence of colour at the point of meeting. Hence creating tension within the space as the contrast between black and white is stark-hosting great hostility.

Linear texture applied to the stone arm chair-"Private space" in Prada Space. The Aim was to add a hard edge to Pradas's space and suggest an element of Masculinity.

Same Linear texture rendered in Photoshop to create a "chalk and charcol" basket effect. Used in Prada space to create a darker and heavier space, as she is the more dignified and imposing of the two woman.

H perspectives

Draft 1 UT Environment

Madonna Space
Graceful and lithe, the maiden Madonna dances to the tunes of a White Western society. And in the darkness...
the lonely maiden weeps
in want of freedom.

Prada Space
Proud and tall, Muccia Prada stands-a pillar of strength, testament to the the superficial world of Fashion.

Link to draft 1 from rapidshare:
http://rapidshare.com/files/247222060/DM-ARCH1101-ericachen_exp3_draft1.htmlMD5: 077A1DB9884EEE6A4B61802AAAFCD33D

Draft 2 UT Environment

The Meeting Space-
A point of union:
harmonious and destructive,
friends in polite society, fouls in discussion.

Link to UT draft with rapid share:

http://rapidshare.com/files/247331512/DM-ARCH1101-ericachen_exp3_draft2.ut2.htmlMD5: A75CD76F0609269BD841FE19EF852EEE

Final Ut Environment

Private and Public space

-as Outer and Inner-self

The Proud Madonna sings her song,
loud and confident
clear and sound.
-to all the young woman of the world,
Behold the spirit within!

Behind the foliage, the humble Prada hums-
a lullaby soft and gentle,
clear as day.
The embodiment of Truth-
she encourages the Woman of today:
Challenge the mind,
Penetrate the glass ceiling within!

Below: The Meeting space in relation to the rest of Madonna and Prada space-Although the vibrant colours of the elvators draw attention; the enormous meeting space encumbers all other spaces below and is the main focus of the architecture. Hence signifying its significance-its aim to downplay the power of the two woman; so that they level each others' egoes out and bring one another down a notch-sharing a feeling of humility.

Above: Prada space: Private space and Public space joined by a narrow pathway. The Private space is cast in shadow, as it is a vehicle for contemplation, stored away from the world. The Public is unblocked by any structure and is left free and open almost like a stage or platform. It is here that Prada displays her works for the world to see. The narrowness of the platform ensures that it is only Prada who can shift in between her public and private space.

The contrast between the Madonna and Prada elevators suggest their respective personalities. Madonna being bold and confident as opposed to the silent but strong voice of Pradas'.