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Trees and Sculptures

D

Wednesday, Feb 17, 2016 - 11:58:51 pm

@ Pixel 林

Introduction

Wood has always been a popular medium in art. But these two artists create more than just your average sculpture or carving.

This essay is an exploration into the concepts and processes behind the work of Ai Wei Wei’s “Trees” and Paul Kaptein’s “Warped Wood Sculptures”.

Trees by Ai Wei Wei

Ai Read more →

Categories: Case Studies | Fifty Shades
Tags: Ai Wei Wei | China | Fifty Shades | glitch art | Management | Paul Kaptein | Perth | planning | Trees | wood
(3) Show Comments
Kamarule
Nice structure of your essay darryl! Good choice of projects to choose as both share the same element of wood and both are also Sculptures. I agree with you that Ai Weiwei as a project manager holds a very important role as he needs to be good in project management as he is working with other people to make his project a reality. Without a good team and a planning, the sculpture would take a longer time to finish. So good that you are able to identify the element in Ai Weiwei's work. In fact, most of his artworks, requires a big group of people and craftsmen. He as an artist is the project manager, and those who is working for him, execute it.
permagnus
Hi Darryl, It’s good you have links to articles about the works button you also add clickable links to the original posts of the two projects on OSS? Good, clear disposition of the analysis: first identfying similarities (good choice of physical MATERIAL), then the differences, and finally a conclusion that planning is paramount to success in both projects. Ai’s work certainly has more of a project management character. The two projects have other dimensions that might be of interest. For example, Ai’s work has an undertone of critique of Chinese contemporary society, hinting that people (“parts of a tree”) are bound together by force rather than natural growth. By contrast, Kaptein’s work is more playful, even comical! Do you think he would ever do a commission of a portrait bust /sculpture of a famous person (for the sake of argument, imagine him portraying Pope Francis or Queen Elizabeth - what would it be like?)
permagnus
auto spelling manipulator! i wrote "but can you also add"…
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Hyper Essay: The Weather Project x Tree

Cindy Chan

Wednesday, Feb 17, 2016 - 11:35:20 pm

@ C I N D Y

The two projects that I selected for this “hyper-essay” are ‘The Weather Project’ by Olafur Elisasson and ‘Tree’ by Ai Weiwei.

I will start this text by giving a brief introduction of both projects. ‘The Weather Project’, 2003 by Olafur Eliasson showcases representations of the sun and sky that dominated the expanse of the Turbine Read more →

Categories: fifty shades
Tags: AiWeiWei | art | budget | execution | installation | OlafurElisasson | scope | Time | tree | Weather
(4) Show Comments
Kamarule
Nice essay Cindy. You managed to link both project's to Ramroth's book and theory. i agree with you that both projects do bring people together, because it is something you don't see everyday. I was hoping you would discuss the different location of both projects as The Weather Project is indoor while Ai Weiwei's work is outdoor. I would beg to differ when you say that the execution phase is the most important because I feel the execution is just the 20 percent of the final artwork. According to Parento's Principle, I feel that the planning and design takes about 80% of the whole project while executing it would be the final 20% as everything is already planned accordingly, therefore execution is mainly putting it all together.
permagnus
Hi Cindy, can you edit and include clickable links to the original posts of the two projects? Really good that you interpret the projects in relation to Ramroth’s project management phases, and with several pertinent reflections. Execution certainly an important phase (always!) though, one could argue that since both Ai’s and Eliasson’s pieces are concept artwork, the work to create them places more emphasis on ideation and planning (early stages) than execution (middle stages).
Kristoffer Wännerdahl
Great and interesting essay! One can tell that theses projects have much in common. First of all, I like how you bring in the artists’ voices by quoting them regarding the purpose of their artworks ('unify' people), which you also relate to later in your analysis. I did some research as both artists are completely unknown for me and I immediately found out about Ai Weiwei's political activities and controversies with the Chinese government. In his words, "Freedom of speech is the very essence of human rights", and his work explores freedom and its restriction in capitalist societies. In the case of tree, as choice of material, I can't help to feel that Ai Weiwei's 'Tree' installation is a bit provocative in some sense. What do you think? Just like Kamarul and PerMagnus mentioned before, I also like how you interpret the theory. I wish you have used this theory even more and given more concrete examples related to the projects. Great job overall!!
Peng Cheng
These two projects are very differently showcased, but yet they seem to have a common goal. In the essay, you focused the workflow and the impact (on the society) of both works. I feel that both projects have very noble goals especially when the world have always had the problem of dealing with conflicts diplomatically. I believe that these artist all have a lot of planning experience as they have been through a lot of past projects. Even if they did not read Ramroth's book, their past failures would allow them adapt to the situation accordingly.
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Sunlight glows in & the dress that shy away

Pearlynn

Wednesday, Feb 17, 2016 - 11:11:51 pm

@ Artefactually Lost

Looking into what Vivian and Darryl had brought into this project discussion, particularly “The Butterfly Dress” and the “House Made of Windows”. I chosen these two projects to discuss as they not only tie-in my interests of technology and nature but also the fact that it the project management is carried out with a small group of 2 people.

[Vivian’s Read more →

Categories: Fifty Shades
Tags: dress | fifty shades | house | light | nature | project | technology | wearable technology | windows
(6) Show Comments
Kamarule
I find this essay talks about more on the project rather than comparing both of them in accordance to Project Management. I feel the selection of both projects is a very daring one as both projects are really different but this could be really interesting if you really compare them. In fact, I can see a similarity in terms of the work they put into the design before executing it. Both projects requires planning in terms of the design and the composition as the execution part is what makes the final product.
permagnus
It's a good succinct summing-up of both works. I am guessing, but could it be that you chose these two projects because both of them refer to something which is 'external façade' (either a house or a person's clothes), and thus they are about finding ways to construct, embellish, and adorn the thin layer that separates someone 'inside' (inside the house, inside the clothes) from the environment? Could you develop this further? Or if you think I'm guessing all wrong, explain why, or what the parallels between the two chosen projects might be?
Kristoffer Wännerdahl
I really like how you describe them as individual projects, but I also wish you had drawn more parallels between them in relation to project management. As you mention, the couple had limitations in terms of money and manpower but they also had to make some personal sacrifices during the several months long construction phase. Those sacrifices are difficult to measure or set in relation (or is it even possible?). Anyway, it's really inspiring to read about people doing such things to fullfil their dreams. It is really cool what you can do with and how you can integrate today's technology. Do you know how much it cost to create the dress or the technology behind it? $500 for a house seems a trifling matter, even though they used a lot of recycled materials, in comparison with a high-technology dress. I can only imagine the amount of sensors and the work, such as programming, needed to control 40 butterflies. Regarding the different phases, I feel that process for “House Made of Windows” is more straight forward and linear. The couple had a lot of limitations to take into considerations. Whilst with the "Butterfly Dress", the process were more cyclical to get desired behavior of the butterflies. What do you think?
Pearlynn
Haha, yes @Kamarul I actually overlooked adding on Ramroth's theory of project management and I would like to briefly mention them here instead of editing the original post (in case it's been graded already) Both projects have fulfilled the role of "sole proprietorship”. As the duo are the bosses of their own work. To also focus on their constraints, the "House made of Windows" undoubtedly has to take into account planning for fitting the windows into a frame while “Butterfly Dress” is fixed upon a piece of garment. Additionally, as these projects are rather unique and small-scale, it did not encouraged the project manager to approach iterative design. Instead, we delve straight to the linear production. This is actually against what Ramroth mentions about moving from the “iterative to the linear” in most designer projects (pg 195). Of course, we still touch upon the 5 phases of project management “start, plan, design, execute, close”. Which I hoped to had covered them in my post earlier. :) And Yes! Projects like these may have an unpredictable result despite careful planning so you do have a good point in mentioning that the final execution counts!
Danning
This eassay is good it compares some important elements between the two projects. I think the budget they have really decide and affect what materials and methods they are going to carry out the projects. The high-tech dress is very cool, however, to me, the House is more challengeable. As they still can develop well their project under such budget shortage, well planning is indispensability.
Pearlynn
Hi Prof! I chose these two projects because I considered about the literal ‘nature' of them, being able to build/craft new forms of what we would normally see as mundane (window, dress … butterflies). The project managers had a new perspective of such things and through good handling, executed the project in their favour. ‘External facade’ is also an interesting phrase to fit under the projects. Though a part of me still thinks that the term applies more to living things, with the cover-up illusion of their image and pride on the outside while internally they are someone different. People can also say, “Do not judge a book by its cover” where the book is "non-living”. Why would people judge non-living things when it's owned by the living? Nonetheless I shouldn’t ramble on about that. I agree that having the facade helps not only to separate yourself on the inside but to also define yourself externally to others. In the case of these projects, the “Butterfly Dress” can never be used to describe the person but the wearer is presented as an amazing, stunning figure. Comparing to a house, people live and breathe in it for longer periods of time than the time interval of wearing clothes, it’s furnished in the same way of however you like it to be. Themes, for example, sets the mood of your personality too. In the case of “House made of Windows”, the designers/project managers adorned their house with antiques, which actually fits their concept of “collection”. Parallels are straight lines, but they can also go in different direction. While I believe that ‘external facade’ can be one of the common angle, there is also the contrast of other aspects in these projects. Something I shouldn’t elaborate now because I will be late for class.
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Yayoi Kusama's dots obsession

Chou

Wednesday, Feb 17, 2016 - 09:26:32 pm

@ Ting Chou

In this essay, two of Yayoi Kusama’s polka dot series works with be discussed. They are: The Mirrored Room–The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away. https://oss.adm.ntu.edu.sg/chou0009/2016/01/21/step-into-infinity/ and the polka dot sculptures in the infinite mirrored room. https://oss.adm.ntu.edu.sg/n1501795d/infinite-polka-dots/

Dots Obsession visually approximates the hallucinations Kusama reportedly suffered as a child, in which the entirety of her surrounding space was covered with repeating patterns. Kusama’s paintings Read more →

Categories: case-studies | fifty shades
Tags: fifty shades | Immersive | infinite | LED | Lights | mirror | polka dots | sculpture | yayoi kusama
(2) Show Comments
Kamarule
I am surprise that you select both projects from the same artist! This could either break or make this essay! Unfortunately, I don't think you did this comparison justice in terms of really comparing in terms of project management. Both projects are different whereas one installation is analog, while the other is not. As both projects are made by the same artist, I was wondering how Kusama approached both projects in terms of time management and the amount of work and planning being put into them. I would argue that with different project, an artist might or might not approached the work differently than their previous works.
permagnus
Hej Daning, for some reason your essay didn't appear on the 'front page'. Have you specified the category "fifty shades" (not just as a tag). can you add links to the original posts on OSS of the two projects? Interesting that you chose two projects by the same artist. WHich one did he do first? Good that you reflect on differences, e.g. in terms of production cost (LED lights etc). One thing I am curious about is TIME. Are the two projects different in terms of how long time you think they would take to a) conceptualize b) plan c) build on-site d) experience as a gallery visitor? Aesthetically speaking, both seem to be dream-like, "magical, and disorientating". Can you find out what the artist says about his intentions?
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Crystal Universe x Brilliance of Life

Vivian

Wednesday, Feb 17, 2016 - 06:14:13 pm

@ V N X Y

I have chose to elaborate on the two projects, “Crystal Universe” by TeamLab, and “Infinity Mirrored Room — filled with the Brilliance of Life” by Yayoi Kusama.

Both of the mentioned projects are light installation projects of Japanese origins. Both of them are similar in that they deal with LED lights suspended in a space, and both of Read more →

Categories: Case-studies | fifty shades
Tags: brillanceoflife | comparison | Crystal | fifty shades | fiftyshades | Lights
(3) Show Comments
permagnus
Nice writeup. These are two of the 'fifty shades' projects, - Can you include links in your post to the previous posts? This is how the 'network of information' can grow. Also add URLs so we can find out more about these works, in particular when you make a direct quote. Finally, add more tags (around 10-12).
Kamarule
nice comparing vivian. I agree with you that Crystal Universe would take a longer time to plan and execute as it is more complicated in terms of the interactive and programming part. However, I disagree with you when you mentioned the TeamLab would take a longer time to communicate. In fact, I think the more professionals there are in a team, the greater the project is because of the synergy in the team.
Peng Cheng
These 2 projects seems to be similar in the ways they are showcased. The Japanese had always a fascination with technology and imaginative spaces. I believe that the sequences of how the 2 projects are planned very differently. As Kamarule has ponted out TeamLab has to manage a small group (probably of different opinions) while Yayio Kusama has a lot of control over her own project.
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