So we were placed into various groups for the 4th project and were tasked to create a sound piece with some musical instruments provided.
I was sorted into Group A with the following members:
Tricia
Dhanu
Jia Yi
Ryan
And these are the 2 sound pieces that we have came up with:
Model
Using the first sound piece as the music model for my Mood Box, I constructed this:
Model Analysis
Here’s the sound piece again:
It consists of 5 instruments listed according to the time they appear:
Scrubbing blocks
Scrapping blocks
Xlylophone
Humming
Sand shaker
Instrument:
Scrubbing blocks
Explanation:
The scrubbing starts off soft then gets louder and louder with time.
The rhythmic movement of the scrubbing is shown from the waves that gets progressively bigger with time as the sound gets louder
Instrument:
Scrapping blocks (Shown in blue)
Explanation:
The sound of the scrapping blocks has a sharp feel to it as if it is jutting into the sound composition
This is portrayed through the green plastic pieces being pierced into the art card, disrupting the flow of the model
Instrument:
Xylophone (Shown in pink)
Explanation:
The tone of the xylophone sounds smooth and lingers for a while before disappearing
This is shown in the model through long smooth strips being cut into the art card
The shape of the strips start off sharp, becomes larger in the middle then ends of sharply, echoing the rhythm of each beat of the xylophone
Instrument:
Humming by Jia Yi (Shown in peach)
Explanation:
Jia Yi’s humming sounds circulatory and is thus represented by a spiraling metal wire
Instrument:
Sand Shaker (Shown in purple)
Explanation:
The whole sound piece ends with this sand shaker and is thus being portrayed by a plastic wheel rolling at the end of the model
The texture of the plastic wheel is pierced with holes, mirroring the sound of sand being rough and irregular
In all, even though the model did represent each instrument of the sound piece through it’s different parts, it did not adhere to the set expectations of portraying the number of beats for each instrument.
However, it still looks visually exciting as it can be seen as a course for skaters in a skate park.
In this project, we were introduced to the Art Card to create planes.
This is my planar model:
In this model, I tried to direct multiple points of the art cards in different directions to provide a feel of balance to the entire model.
This model is an improved version of an earlier one which had the same big central spiral piece but did not reached as high up. Metal wire embedded into the art card was used to reinforce the art card for this model so that it would stand.
I also stuck with using a Styrofoam base instead of the prescribed paper base so that the art cards can be wedged into the base for extra support. The art cards did started to fall apart after a few days of creation though, as the double-sided tape that held the pairs of art card with the metal wire sandwiched between them started to lose it’s stickiness. I shall take note of the durability of adhesives for the next models.
This model turned out a bit differently from the one it’s based on.
I tried to create a shape which was much more visually interesting by twirling the art card in multiple rounds
Since the previous model’s sub-ordinate did not seem to have much of a presence, I tried to play around with its shape to create a sphere within the arch that the sub-dominant in this model. I had wanted this to give it significance within the model as it would have a clear contrast as compared to the other two waves. However, the sphere was devoid of a direction and i was advised to reduce the curls and make the sub-ordinate jut out in a specific direction during the critique session.
Onto the plastic model.
We were first given the task of choosing 2 scents, one pleasing and one non-pleasing.
My scents are:
Watermelon – Reminds me of my late Grandfather who used to always offer me fruits whenever I visited him. Though it has been a long time since he passed away, the memory of him handing fruits onto my hands are still vividly etched into my mind . Eating fruits now gives me the same warmth as when he was around.
Pepper – My mother has a tendency to make her cooking spicy in multiple ways, Be it through pepper or chilli. Because of this, I have come to dislike anything spicy after being tormented to eating horrendously spicy food everyday for many years.
In the model, i envisioned it to be a culinary experience where a person is eating watermelon topped with a generous amount of pepper.
It starts with the lower part of the model where it’s clear and untouched, just like how a watermelon is supposed to be eaten – plain on its own. The ring around the bottom of the model has a dotted texture, which echos the texture of the watermelon as you chew on it. The shape of the ring also symbolizes my grandfather in the way of a halo. As you go up the model, it bursts into sharp waves representing the spiciness of the pepper hitting your tongue and nose. The waves spreads around in all directions, just as how the spiciness of the pepper engulfs the interior of your mouth.
As an added visual aspect, the model was shone with a light underneath to bring about a spectacle:
The green dye of the bottle that was used as it’s base complements the transparent bottle used for the waves at the top as the green light that emerges from the bottom starts out strong and gradually dissipates as it makes its way up of the model. The transparency of the clear waves at the top creates an illusion of a smoke emerging from a flare beneath it.
Project 2 is here and we are to create a structure similar to an Ikebana,
So we were first given 3 shapes:
Cone
Sphere
Cylinder
and we are tasked to create interesting models based on the idea of tilting these shapes against one another.
Here are my 2 3D sketch models and their 2d visual analysis:
3D Sketch Model 1
Components:
Dominant – Cylinder
Sub-dominant – Cone
Sub-Ordinate – Sphere
Rule of Thirds:
The Sphere is positioned at 1/3 of the cylinder’s length from the right
The Cone is connected at 1/3 of it’s height to the Cylinder
Flaw:
The diameter of the Cone’s base is roughly the same as that of the Cylinder
3D Sketch Model 2
Components:
Dominant – Sphere
Sub-Dominant – Cylinder
Sub-Ordinate – Cone
Rule of Thirds:
The Cylinder is connected at 1/3 of it’s length to the Sphere
The Cone is connected at 1/3 of it’s base’s diameter to the Cylinder
Chosen model for final product: 3D Sketch Model 2
Season Mind-map
After having the layout of the 3D Sketch Model formulated, we were to create a final model comprising of the following components:
Cone, Sphere and Cylinder
Tree Branch
1 other element
and the model is to be based off food eaten in Japan during a specified season.
The season that i was tasked to formulate my model upon: Winter
Truth be told, the first thing that comes to mind when i think of Winter is this:
Basically Christmas is a big thing for the Japanese and I wanted to create something in relation to this yearly celebration in the country.
So after listing down foods and events that the Japanese eat/hold during the Winter season, i’ve selected those that i would possibly use for the model.
Taste/Food Research
So i’ve decided on Christmas and Valentine’s Day as the main themes for the food that i’ll be creating.
Thus the search for food in relation to these events begin:
Knowing that the food will have to be shaped to that of my 3D Sketch Model, I’ve decided to have a look at it again.
In 3D Sketch Model 2, there is a large sphere.
And what better way to use that as an advantage than to make it a scoop of ice-cream?
With this, the foundation of the food has been set: A Dessert
And linking this to the food that appears on the table during Christmas and Valentine’s Day, I’ve decided to go with a Christmas Cake-inspired Dessert.
Final Model
Edible Model:
Determined at creating an Edible Model, I’ve created a dessert that has roughly the same shape as 3D Sketch Model 2:
Video of me preparing the Edible Model:
Video courtesy of En Cui
Ingredients:
Vanilla Ice Cream
Pocky Strawberry Stick
Blueberries
Strawberry Gummy (Covered by ice cream in photo)
it is essentially a Christmas cake recreated into a dessert
Note that all the ingredients provide multiple textures for a wholesome culinary experience:
Ice-cream – Soft
Pocky stick – Hard
Blueberries – Juicy
Strawberry gummy – Chewy
Inedible Model:
The inedible model is modeled with the theme of a “White Christmas” – event where it is snowing during the day of Christmas.
This is a continuation of the episode of the anime which first inspired the theme of Christmas
So it’s a highly anticipated phenomenon for the Japanese and it is recreated with this model:
Note the Japanese-style snowman face for the Japanese feel.
(Or probably because i just like the Japanese-style)
The class was told to bring an object that they found 3-dimensionally interesting.
So i brought along my hourglass timer.
And in accordance to what we’ve learnt in class, i did up a 2d sketch analysis of it:
Rule of Thirds: The Hourglass roughly follows the rule of thirds as it’s top and bottom parts can be classified separately from it’s slim middle part.
Principal Axis: The Hourglass has 2 principles axis, one vertical and one horizontal through its center. They clearly separate the Hourglass into 2 similar halves.
Positive/Negative Void: Taking the top and bottom parts of the Hourglass as positive voids, 2 negative voids of similar volumes can be formed on either sides of the Hourglass’s slim middle part.
3D Sketch of Project “Pandora’s Box”
The word I have received for the assignment is:
Tension.
To get a better grasp of what my 3D object should look like to express said word, let’s look up on it’s definition.
Tension
1) A state or condition resulting from forces acting in opposition of one another.
2) Mental or Emotional stress
3) A situation or condition of hostility, suspense or unevenness
So basically the object needs to exhibit the action of something being pulled.
Thus, onto my first two 3D sketches:
3D Sketch 1
So in order to demonstrate Tension, i’ve wedged the subordinate between the dominant and sub-dominant.
The rationale behind this is that gravity acts on the subordinate, resulting in a gravitational force, G, on it, while the dominant and sub-dominant holds onto it which results in a pulling force, P.
This thus brings about a pair of opposing forces acting on the subordinate, which is in accordance to the first definition of Tension.
“1) A state or condition resulting from forces acting in opposition of one another.”
A view of the 3D Sketch from other angles
The weakness of this 3D sketch is that some boxes are hidden when the sketch is viewed from the sides.
3D sketch 2
Similar to 3D sketch 1, the subordinate is once again the object of focus.
Gravitational force, G, pulls the subordinate downwards while the sub-dominant pulls it upwards resulting in pulling force, P.
Once again, opposing forces illustrating Tension.
The 3D sketch viewed from other angles:
And repeating the mistake from 3D Sketch 1, some boxes cannot be seen when 3D sketch 2 is viewed from the right side.
Then came along a consultation session with Professor Cheryl in class, which produced a better version of the 3D Sketch.
3D Sketch 3
Please ignore the slant of the sub-dominant.
Somehow reminiscent of 3D Sketch 2,
this time, instead of having the subordinate act as the object of focus, the sub-dominant will now take that role.
For the umpteenth time, gravity pulls the sub-dominant down, causing gravitational force, G, while the subordinate holds it in place, creating pulling force, P, upwards.
The result: A condition of opposing force acting on the sub-dominant expressing the word, Tension.
Here’s the sketch viewed from the angles as well:
Now that the diagram has succeeded in conveying the phenomenon which is Tension, more focus can be placed on the other aspects of the 3D sketch.
Which brings us to 3D Sketch 4:
3D Sketch 4
Some more adjustments to the foam will have to be made but this is the general idea of how it’s going to proceed.
Rule of Thirds
The sub-dominant will have a length which is roughly 2/3 of that of the dominant.
1/3 of the breadth of the subordinate will be wedged into the dominant while the remaining 2/3 will be wedged into the sub-dominant
Finally, none of the boxes are hidden when viewed from any angle.
The subordinate may look like it’s a cube from the photos, but it’s actually rectangular in shape.
Now, i may want to add the idea of contrasting voids on the next sketch if possible.