mugs and vases

As part of The Residency I’ve spent some time being introduced to different aspects of the research group’s work and some of the other stuff happening in the building. There’s a plethora of high-tech gadgetry stuff here.

It all looks quite alluring, but I’m cautious of using the gadgetry for gadgetry’s sake. There needs to be a solid reason for using it.

…on the other hand it would be a shame not to use it whilst I have the opportunity…

The rapid prototyping machines (and processes) look like they may have some potential for going somewhere. The ideas I’ve had so far will take a lot of experimenting as far as trying out new combinations of materials. Just what the ISP is about, but not so hot for getting stuff done before graduation.

Never mind, I should really just get stuck in and see what happens.

In thinking about how I might do something that addresses the idea of manufacturing an object from computer-generated instructions; something that gets produced in this sort of hermetically sealed chamber; something that is magiced into being by lasers; something that is produced to near-perfect final shape, I decided to take a low-tech approach to seeking out an idea.

Last week I ‘borrowed’ students from one of the foundation classes at uni and gave them all the same prompt:

Hi, I’m just trying to generate some really loose, sketchy-type drawings. I’ve got two examples here: one of an object made from metal and one of an object made from plastic. What I’d like you to do is to draw something made from ceramic/clay. Don’t be too precious about it, just a 5-second job or somehing.

At this point most people’s minds went blank.

I tried to give them a free choice in what they drew, although I may have influenced them in giving two vessels with the metal and plastic examples.

I was looking for imperfection: thus asking them to draw quickly and then, after that, asking them to draw the same object again, but using their other hand.

Here are the results:

I’m wondering if I can use the precise rapid prototyping technology to generate imprecise objects.

meanwhile…

It was interesting watching the students complete the with-the-left-hand part of the request. (Out of 17 volunteers only one was left-handed). Initial reaction were usually along the lines of “I can’t do that” and “It will be rubbish!”. I tried to emphasise that it was more an excercise in mark-making rather than in producing an accurate drawing.

A lot of people didn’t actually draw using their hand. Or their wrist. Or their arm. A lot of people drew by moving their torsos. So wooden! It looked really uncomfortable.