Category: Capstone

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Capstone: Entry 2

Updated Research Questions

While my previous research questions were great, their scope was a bit too large and not focused enough. My research questions should have tangible outcomes.

I was thinking of creating a machine that triggers every time an obituary is posted. This is not a research question so much as the answer to one. The research question should be more like: How can interactive art help people come to terms with their own mortality?

The other questions about consumerism could be more focused to be: How can apps and personal technology be used to better inform us about our consumer choices?

Lastly, the bit on being edgy should be left out. It was a dig at the wholesomeness entrenched in Boulder. However, the idea behind creating perversions of common concepts, technologies, and cultural landmarks still does appeal to me. A question about this could be, generally: How can interactive art be used to how the Sartrean absurdism in life? Though too general this question could be refined to point out some facet of the world I live in. One where people will ask for donations to Greenpeace while wearing clothes made in sweat shops, showing some strange idea that the animals in those far off countries are worth more than the people there.

Research Questions

  • How can apps and personal technology be used to better inform us about our consumer choices?
  • Could interactive art help people understand their own internal cognitive dissonance and biases?
  • How can interactive art help people come to terms with their own mortality?
Posted on

Capstone: Entry 1

Domains, Precedents, Research

Domains of Interest:

  • Fabrication
  • Sculpture
  • Digital Modeling
  • Surrealism
  • Animation
  • Satan
  • Data Visualization
  • Anti-comsumerism

Most of my projects in college have been dark and sometimes surrealist pieces leaning toward satire and novelty rather than commercial marketability. Pieces such as my Bus Water Bottle Top and my Walpurgisnacht could have been taken in more utilitarian directions but instead were made surreal or dark. This mask also falls into the domain of Satanism.

Most of my projects have had been influenced by surrealists and occultists. This started earlier with my love of HR Giger‘s works, as well as the works of Polish artist Zdzisław Beksiński. I think this stemmed out of my dislike for easily accepted things because of their tendency to become commercial products. I have always abhorred the commercialization of society and the tendency to forget the impact of one’s own consumerism.

However, as a designer, my projects have been more refined and less emotionally raw than their source material. So I started to look for precedents for my domains of interest.

Precedents

HR Giger

HR Giger’s art works include several sculptures and two bars that he designed. The first bar, located in Chur, Switzerland I visited while I was in Europe.

Sculpture in Chur, Switzerland near the bar

The second one is in Guyere of the cheese fame. Both of the bars interested me because of their “biomechanical” nature and dark themes in physical form. I would like my capstone project to include some intersection of the occult and fabrication.

Freehand Profits

While I’m not as influenced by this artist, the mask I made was heavily influenced by the use of shoes as well as the “gas mask” aspects of it. His masks are usually made from brand name sneakers and are made in collaboration with the companies. While being a shill is the last thing I want to do, the corporate tie-ins I would like to emulate but in a sardonic manner befitting our post-Andy Warhol art world.

In celebration of Air Max Day 2017, the 142nd & 143rd sneaker masks created by Freehand Profit. Made from Air Max 90s and Air Max 1s. Find out more about the work on FREEHANDPROFIT.com.

Felix Colgrave

This animator does some wildly strange animations that often have dark themes such as Pigpen and Double King. His most known piece is rather tame comparatively.

Others

http://www.emojitracker.com/ – Tracks all emoji usage on Twitter in real time

https://mewo2.com/notes/terrain/ – Generates a random fantasy map

Research Questions

My research questions should somehow incorporate the domains that I’m interested in. I would like to ultimately have my project be some sort of data visualization art piece that is dark and surreal.

  • How often do people think about the impact that their personal consumerism has on the world?
  • How much would people change their buying habits if they were more cognizant of their effects?
  • How edgy can a piece of industrial design be and still be commercially viable?
  • Could interactive art be used to change buying behaviors?