Foundations of Design : REPRESENTATION, SEM1, 2017 M2 JOURNAL - FLATNESS vs PROJECTION Georgia Hodgkinson
914651 Emmanuel Cohen, Studio 1
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WEEK 3 READING: LEGER, LE CORBUSIER AND PURISM
Question 1: What is Pictorial Space according to Le Corbusier? (Maximum 100 words) Le Corbusier’s approach to pictorial space originates from his ideas and practices regarding architectural space. Le Corbusier’s la Roche-Jeanneret house complex was constructed to embrace Le Corbusier’s need for circulation and movement within a space. A visitor’s movement through the la Roche house is deliberately led by Le Corbusier’s meticulously arranged pathway, enabling them to experience the visceral depth and distance existing within the space. Le Corbusier’s definition of pictorial space stems from this notion of space existing to host movement and circulation, and thus pictorial space is simply an illusion of depth which the viewer encounters from afar, it cannot be penetrated.
Question 2: The Flatness of Le Corbusier’s painting’s are attributable to two properties. What are they? And what are these pitted against?(Maximum 100 words) Le Corbusier’s crisply contoured shapes create a flat surface on the painting’s plane. Le Corbusier lacks any black representation of shadow or definition of a silhouette to hint towards 3 dimensiality. Le Corbusier’s paintings make use of colour and texture in a way which is not revolved around the communication of depth of the object, but rather to seperate the objects within the space and to distinguish the characteristics of his chosen shapes. Le Cobusier’s flat depictions are pitted against the traditional notion of paintings representing, in a pictorial manner, the real depth of space which exists in the real world, and thus Le Corbusier’s focus on frontality is established.
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MARIO’S WORLD
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1ST MARIO’S WORLD Points are recorded on elements in the 2D images, projection lines are extended from these points
The two 2D Mario World images were placed at a 45 degree angle then projection lines extended to create the 3D axonometric version of the 2D images.
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COMBINED MARIO’S WORLD
The two Mario Worlds are combined to create one. The first Mario World is situated on the top level, second Mario World beneath, with a waterfall entry into the second world. In this step I added the entry between the worlds, extra characters and ladders to connect the ground level with the floating rocks.
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WEEK 4 READING: PRACTICE ARCHITECTURE, TECHNIQUE AND REPRESENTATION
Question 1: Explain the difference between Pictoral (in this case perspectival) space and Projection? (Maximum 100 words) Perspectival space is said to create a “facade view”, one which “limits space” and gives an illusion that the depicted space is “finite, closed”. Such can be understood as a form of anamorphosis. The viewer is located and situated specifically in order to view the space in which the drawing intends it to be seen. Perspective focuses less on the geometrical features of the space but rather upon the viewer and their subjective illusion of the depicted space. To project, however, “literally means to throw forward” (Querglas). That is, the information which already exists is projected forward into the distance in order for it to be depicted differently and viewed in a new sense. This said distance, rather than being finite in a perspectival sense, becomes simultaneously prolonged and collapsed in projection.
Question 2: Where did Axonometric projection first arise, and why? (Maximum 100 words) Axonometric projection has existed since ancient visual practices, however its first systematic function occured in millitary as a way of communicating 3 dimensional trajectories of artillery projectiles. Axonometric became a useful construct whenever measurability, prediction and verifiability became relevant, such as in the contexts of engineering, architecture, and in the 20th century, in art. A desire among the avant-gardes arose, artists wanted to go beyond conventional depictions of the world in their paintings and begin to create works in which the space is irrational and not yet existing. To repond to this need, axonometric projection was introduced as a means to translate abstract information, appropriating this information through projection and thus creating content which interprets a new world.
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ILLUSTRATED MARIO’S NEW WORLD
Mario drawing was traced in illustrator and filled with colour taken from the colours of the original Mario World images. Colour allows for the perception of depth in the space, particularly on the transparent box of water.
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APPENDIX
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Materials used to create the axonometric drawing: T sqaure, 45 degree set square, draw-
After setting up my space with tracing paper overlayed over the 2d world at 45 degrees,
ing board, 2H pencil and 2D Mario World images.
I mapped out the significant points on the object’s perimeter, I then projected the lines
APPENDIX
The T sqaure allowed me to easily move the set sqaure for straight and accurate 45 degree lines as well as straight vertical lines when plotting the depth of the scene.
Originally I combined the Mario Worlds on one single level, connected by a cylindrical tunnel. I decided to discard this world as I wanted more detail and a more interesting layout, so I then decided to trace the worlds on two levels.
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