Amanda Maduri Thesis I
Depth Perception
Thesis Proposal My thesis is an exploration of the simplicites and complexities that lie within the illusions of threedimensional depth made through two-dimensional design. Through processes of deconstruction, followed by the construction of designs, I will understand and create the ways in which the elements of art interact to create representations of real life spaces and dimension. I am interested in the ways in which the fundamental elements and principles of art, such as line, shape, color, and space, can assemble to mimic complicated realities.
2
Artist Precedents The Op-art movement, started in the 1960s, utilizes systematic applications of line, shape and color to create the illusions of depth on a two-dimensional surface. Josef Albers experimented with the interactions of color, by producing hundreds of studies in his series called Homage to the Square. Albers clearly shows how using color relationships can accomplish the illusion of simple depth.
3
Artist Precedents The Op-art movement, started in the 1960s, utilizes systematic applications of line, shape and color to create the illusions of depth on a two-dimensional surface. Julian Stanczak was also an Op artist who created depth by painting complicated compositions which only contain the barest of visual elements.
4
Artist Precedents More recent projects by artists contain similar visual clues used by the seminal Op artists, with similar results. However, motion, and design within the framework of the computer has been added. The possibility for motion comes with the exploration of the GIF file format, other systems within the programs of the computer, and distortion of technologies.
Sarah Ludy, Rooms, 2012
Claudia Mate, GIF, 2011 Kim Asendorf, Random Rooms, 2009
5
Completed Explorations: Project One
With these precedents in mind, I began executing and systematically breaking down depth into its simple two-dimensional forms of color. Here is the first structure I worked within. 6
Completed Explorations: Project One
Color relationships such as complementary, analoguous, and monochrome were considered in testing how to achieve believable depth.
7
Completed Explorations: Project One
Color relationships such as complementary, analoguous, and monochrome were considered in testing how to achieve believable depth.
8
Completed Explorations: Project One
Gradients were then applied, which gave me the opportunity to create depth in each separate plane in the structure.
9
Completed Explorations: Project One
Gradients were then applied, which gave me the opportunity to create depth in each separate plane in the structure.
10
Completed Explorations: Project One
The second structure allows for more detailed illusions, and is broken down into more planes.
11
Completed Explorations: Project One
The second structure allows for more detailed illusions, and is broken down into more planes.
12
Completed Explorations: Project One
The third structure.
13
Completed Explorations: Project One
The third structure along with gradients.
14
Completed Explorations: Project One
15
Completed Explorations: Project Two I then began implementing motion, here seen as stills, through the GIF file format, and various other explorations into the way technology can render dimension, including using keying effects in After Effects. I started with a 100 x 100 pixel work area and then created a small animation to then be patterned and shown online.
The projects can be seen at: http://a.parsons.edu/~madua830/thesis/GIFs/bitmap/b1.html
16
Completed Explorations: Project Three The systems that lie within the computer began to inspire me. I explored how the generic button styles on Photoshop exhibit depth by looking at each style on an enlarged 500 x 500 pixel square. Photoshop’s basic styles successfully give the illusion of drop shadows and bevels using the elements and principles of art mentioned beforehand.
The projects can be seen at: http://a.parsons.edu/~madua830/thesis/pstyles/web/w1.html
17
Completed Explorations: Project Four In my next experiments, I tried to reduce my work even further, as I felt the explorations weren’t deconstructed enough. I began with the 500 x 500 pixel composition again, created a basic cube, and constructed/deconstructed depth by only using line frameworks within the cube form. The results achieve impossible depth, while also leaving much of the visual information up to the viewer to interpret, which I am interested in exploring further.
18
Completed Explorations: Project Four
19
Completed Explorations: Project Four
20
Completed Explorations: Project Five
In order to attain the level of complication I was interested in creating, I began combining my previous experiments into compositions that, again, test illusions of three-dimensional depth.
21
Final Explorations of the Semester
My goal for the end of the semester was to bring my designs into reality by projecting them onto existing surfaces. This creates a juxtaposition and confusing fake environment for viewers, which I would like to form into my thesis’ final project in the second semester. Here, is one of the first designs I created projected into a corner in my apartment.
22