OUIL505 Research: Candy Floor Installation

Candy Floor Installation

http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2016/04/1400-square-feet-of-candy-colored-resin-layered-onto-the-floor-of-a-german-museum/

Artist: Peter Zimmermann 
Website: http://peterzimmermann.com/de/

Overview:

• Zimmerman adds colourful hues of resin to the gallery floor
• Installation composes of bright blue peach and pink resin
• Links directly to my idea for museum based installations and mural artwork to either be, promote or go alongside a key exhibition.

Artists quote:

“When I realized my first floor piece about eight years ago, it represented an attempt to break with the shiny surface of the synthetic resin works,” said Zimmermann in a conversation with German journalist Till Briegleb. “The fact that visitors actually walk on it necessarily means that the surface will get scratched, destroyed. It develops a kind of patina as a result. Trainers leave scuff marks, high heels leave scratches. All of which are all interesting relicts…. I think that these traces correspond to the brush strokes of the oil paintings.”

3D morphing animated GIF's

3D & 2D Morphing Animated GIFs

GIF research and inspiration 

Alejandro Pérez - http://alexp203.tumblr.com/

David Whyte - http://beesandbombs.tumblr.com/

David Whyte - http://beesandbombs.tumblr.com/

David Whyte's animated gifs (image 3 & 4) use an open source programming language called Processing, to aid the creation of images, animation, and various computer interactions. His background in mathematics and physics aided his understanding and therefore creation of the motion and geometry used in these popular images. 

The minimalistic use of shape and colour emphisises motion and captivates the viewer untill they can muster the strength to break from the images trance inducing effects. whyte is open with his source code and believes in helping other artists achieve similar results. 

Processing: https://www.processing.org/

Thoughts 

I would still really like to create a morphing animated gif and these examples show the potential of new digital imaging software. Simple yet effective and the programming language "processing" could be a way of creating a new form of gif imagery that i would like to have a go at.  

OUIL505: Mural with a purpose

GUIDO VAN HELTEN'S MURAL ART PROJECT IN CHERNOBYL

http://www.juxtapoz.com/news/street-art/guido-van-helten-s-mural-art-project-in-chernobyl/

Artist: Guido van Helten

Link: http://www.guidovanhelten.com/

This work by Australian artist Guido van Helten and Ukrainian arts coordinator Geo Lores is the first street art project to be created in the restricted zone of Chernobyl. The piece is a photoelectric painting of a picture taken by the world renowned photojournalist Igor Kostin during the disaster and marks the 30th anniversary of the nuclear catastrophe which took place on 26th April 1986. the mural pays homage to Igor Kostin who was the first photojournalist to document the disaster as it happened and spent many years painstakingly partaking in clean up activities post the disaster.Sadly, Kostin passed away in 2015.  

This piece is a good example of impactive artwork with substance and a deeper message aimed at its audience in the hope of educating and resonating on a much deeper emotional level.

Research: Coral Bleaching!

http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_bleach.html

*******

Coral Bleaching Triggers

Coral bleaching is theorized to be a generalized stress response of corals that may be caused by a number of biotic and abiotic factors, including:

• increased (most commonly due to global warming), or reduced water temperatures^[6][7][8][9]

• oxygen starvation caused by an increase in zooplankton levels as a result of overfishing^[10]

• increased solar irradiance (photosynthetically active radiation and ultraviolet light)^[11]

• changes in water chemistry (in particular acidification caused by CO₂ pollution)^[12][13]

• increased sedimentation (due to silt runoff)^[14]

• bacterial infections^[15]

• changes in salinity^[16]

• herbicides^[17]

• low tide and exposure^[18]

• cyanide fishing^[19]

• elevated sea levels due to global warming (Watson)

• mineral dust from African dust storms caused by drought^[20]

• four common sunscreen ingredients, that are nonbiodegradable, and can wash off of skin^{[21][22][23][24][25]}

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_bleaching#Causes

Ramesh Kumar/Flickr: (https://s.w-x.co/coralbleaching.jpg)

No Author given: 
http://api.ning.com/files/IZVpEDlfz9O3tihwpzP68zF3gif3JYT4jH0Y7hn9s2FWCJV-t8uGTcW4KJZabP5TGtnvB3XsVhTravAFrVg8LLJ05*IcqPm*/IMG_4387.JPG


Further Examples of Coral Bleaching

Thoughts/Ideas moving forward

This research has been a key moment for me in terms of where all this research is going and what I now want to produce in terms of experimentation, development application and final resolutions for my OUIL505 project.

I want to create a body of work which focuses on the exploration of the beauty of these reefs when the coral organisms are in a healthy state and provide a strong and safe habitat for other living oceanic creatures such as fish and shellfish, as well as really highlight this as a key environmental issue. Coral bleaching is unnecessary and preventable, yet causes a huge percentage of healthy coral to wither away and die due to nutrients starvation.

To help focus my subject, I think narrowing down my research and concentrating on this one cause and effect whilst still also looking at coral and reefs as a whole, will help my project to be concise and hopefully much more impacting (as apposed to trying to convey too much information, potentially bombarding my audience - which is easy to do as these issues mean a lot to me and my practise.)

Key project themes/ideas:

• Concept: "Coralise" / "Coralize"

• Patterns in nature

• Ethos: Coral Reef Conservation

• Environmental issue focus: 

- Coral Bleaching

- Blast fishing

• Area of context: Object & Environment

• linking to product & packaging, educational illustration

Research: Object & Environment - Nobuhiro Nakanishi

Nobuhiro Nakanishi - Layered Drawings

http://design-milk.com/nobuhiro-nakanishi/

Artist: Nobuhiro Nakanishi
Website: http://nobuhironakanishi.com/

Nakanishi's body of work named "Layered Drawings" uses layered laser printed images on acrylic to give a beautiful panoramic cascading view of natural landscapes. These pieces turn 2D images into a 3D sculptures. The concept truly creates an environment that immerses the viewer.  

Possible idea for a unique take on a 3D/layered mural.

Research: James Nizam: The Immateriality of Light

The Immateriality of Light

http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2016/03/geometric-sculptures-produced-from-the-immateriality-of-light-by-james-nizam/

Artist: James Nizam
Website: http://jamesnizam.com/works/

Amazing example of object and environment by way of 3D structures using light. an interesting and captivating use of extraordinary shape and media, making the intangible tangible. 

OUIL505: Design • Recycled

Edouard Martinet’s Masterfully Sculpted Animals and Insects Made from Bicycle, Car, and Motorcycle Parts

Source: http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2016/04/edouard-martinet-assembled-creatures/

Artist: Edouard Martinet
Website: http://www.sladmorecontemporary.com/edouard-martinet/

• Nice example of object and environment
• Artist assembles interpretations of birds, insects, and other creatures
• Works are made from bycicle, motorbike and car parts
• nice use of recycled materials
• Representing nature through man made pieces of engineering (both sides of the spectrum) 

Quote from source:

"What sets Martinet’s work apart is the brilliant formal clarity of his sculptures, and their extraordinary elegance of articulation. His degree of virtuosity is unique: he does not solder or weld parts. His sculptures are screwed together. This gives his forms an extra level of visual richness – but not in a way that merely conveys the dry precision of, say, a watchmaker. There is an X-Factor here, a graceful wit, a re-imagining of the obvious in which a beautifully finished object glows not with perfection, but with character, with new life."

Edouard Martinet | Insectophile from Sladmore Contemporary on Vimeo.

Video Link: https://vimeo.com/165133678

Further Research: Specific Endangered/Threatened Species of Coral

Further Research: 
Specific Endangered/
Threatened Species of Coral

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/invertebrates/corals.htm

Some of the corals listed under the endangered species act:

Name: Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata)
Status: Threatened 

Elkhorn coral - Photo by: Fausto De Nevi Herrera 

https://www.edf.org/sites/default/files/slides/IMG_8302-718x377_0_0.jpg 

Description:

Elkhorn coral is a large coal with antler like branches. It's main habitats are of the coast of Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean. The critical habitats of Elkhorn coral are listed as Florida, Puerto Rico, St. John/ St. Thomas, St. Croix. 

Threats: 

• disease, such as white band disease
• hurricanes
• predation
• bleaching
• algae overgrowth
• sedimentation
• temperature and salinity variation
• low genetic diversity

Name: Staghorn Coral (Acropora cervicornis) 

Status: Threatened 

Staghorn Coral - No Author Stated (public domain) - https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Hertshoon.jpg/1280px-Hertshoon.jpg

Description:

Staghorn Coral is a medium sized coral with cylindrical branches. It occurs in balck reef and fore reef environments. it critical habitats are listed as, Florida, Puerto Rico, St. John/ St. Thomas and St. Croix.

Threats: 

• disease, such as white band disease, is their biggest source of mortality
• hurricanes
• predation
• bleaching
• algae overgrowth
• sedimentation
• temperature and salinity variation
• asexual reproduction, allows rapid population recovery from physical disturbances such as storms, but makes recovery from disease or bleaching difficult
• low genetic diversity

Name: Cantharellus noumeae 

Status: Endangered

Cantharellus coral - Lyndon Devantier

http://coral.aims.gov.au/factsheet.jsp?speciesCode=0566

Description:

Cantharellus noumeae is a mushroom shaped coral with a flat or concave surface and was named after the Chanterelle mushroom. It is a solitary species that remains attached to substrate in both the early and late stages of life. It is found in tropical marine waters, including sandy lagoons and sandy bays. Geographically it is found in areas of south easy asia. 

Threats:

• Sedimentation from mining activities
• hurricanes
• predation
• bleaching
• algae overgrowths
• temperature and salinity variation

Name: Brain Coral (Dipioastrea heliopora)

Status: Threatened    

Brain Coral - No Author Stated (public domain) 

http://subaqua-old.web.cern.ch/subaqua-old/photos/2006-04-06-soudan-jcw/2006-04-06-Soudan-JCW-Images/29.jpg

Description: 
Dipioastrea heliopora forms spherical brain like colonies, often 1 meter  in length. Their colour is usually grey, cream, or sometimes greenish. Brain coral has been hound in the red sea, northern and southwest Indian ocean, central Indo-pacific,southeast Asia, Australia, japan, and china. 

Threats: 

• Mining for the aquarium trade
• Climate change
• Disease 
• Bleaching 
• Damage from construction 
• storms and hurricanes
• ocean acidification 

Name:Tubastraea floreana

Status: Endangered 

Tubastraea floreana - Paul Humann- fishid.com

 http://cdn2.arkive.org/media/DB/DB407F9C-C69C-4814-8BA8-2A4BB13E87B2/Presentation.Large/Floreana-coral-.jpg

Description:

Tubastraea floreana is an azooxanthellate coral, meaning that it feeds by capturing zooplankton in their outstretched tentacles. They are found only in the Galapagos and near Ecuador. 

Threats:

• The main threat and reason for decreased population of this species was the El Nino event of 1982/83. According to arkive.org an El Niño even is "A natural phenomenon that happens every 4 to 12 years, and lasts for several months, when upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water does not occur. This causes the warming of ocean surface water off the western coast of South America and causes die-offs of plankton and fish. It also affects Pacific jet stream winds, altering storm tracks and creating unusual weather patterns in various parts of the world."

• Other variations in water temperature, such ans global warming will also effect this species. 

Full list of Corals listed under the Endangered Species Act

Threatened coral species:

• Acropora palmata - Elkhorn coral
• Acropora cervicornis - Staghorn coral
• Dendrogyra cylindrus - Pillar coral
• Mycetophyllia ferox - Rough cactus coral
• Orbicella annularis - Lobed star coral
• Orbicella faveolata - Mountainous star coral
• Orbicella franksi - Boulder star coral
• Acropora globiceps
• Acropora jacquelineae
• Acropora lokani
• Acropora pharaonis
• Acropora retusa
• Acropora rudis
• Acropora speciosa
• Acropora tenella
• Anacropora spinosa
• Euphyllia paradivisa
• Isopora crateriformis
• Montipora australiensis
• Pavona diffluens
• Porites napopora
• Seriatopora aculeata

Endangered coral species:

• Cantharellus noumeae
• Siderastrea glynni
• Tubastraea Floreana

Sources:

Corals listed under the Endangered Species Act

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/invertebrates/corals.htm

Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata)

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/invertebrates/elkhorncoral.htm

Staghorn Coral (Acropora cervicornis)

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/invertebrates/staghorncoral.htm

Cantharellus noumeae

http://www.arkive.org/cantharellus-coral/cantharellus-noumeae/

http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/133384/0

Brain Coral (Dipioastrea heliopora)

http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/133231/0

http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=207417

Tubastraea floreana

http://www.arkive.org/floreana-coral/tubastraea-floreana/

http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/63580/0

Urban / Street Art - Criminal Inspiration

When thinking in depth about my chosen area of context, object and environment at its very core fits well within the urban environment and application of artwork amongst the streets.

This really interests me as in many cases, the way artwork fits within a given environment and can often be a really cleaver use of media / ideas / concept but the artist / illustrator - automatically creating an engaging piece of artwork and often lends itself to having a deeper meaning / substance within the message being portrayed.

I cannot find the article now, however I once read about how graffiti art and murals are destroying the aesthetic of our cities and architecture - a true case of disrespect by thugs on the streets of our cities. 

This really upset me as yes I do not believe that all "tagging" or "graffiti" is in itself it is a true form of considered artwork and yes can be seen as vandalism for sure, especially when seen on beautiful old buildings. However in response to this statement a graffiti artists - leader of the game - and practitioner often commissioned to fill urban spaces with their artwork said something that really hit home to me the problem surrounding freedom of expression within the graffiti - street art movement, saying something along the lines of: 

Graffiti and mural art should not always be tarnished with the same brush as tagging and the underground vandalism, thugs, criminal culture on our streets. Often artwork - visual and aesthetically pleasing pieces - can lift a city and cause on lookers to question important issues within society. Graffiti in itself acts as a voice of the people, and this rubbish about destroying the look of architecture is complete nonsense.

If we can allow huge billboards and digitised advertisement screens bombarding us with promotions and pumping us full of propaganda- to hang from Grade A listed buildings without the public consent and yet this be deemed acceptable - then why can't beautiful and impactive piece of street artwork be accepted as well? If its not costing money and making money from members of society - then it isn't acceptable and must "be removed" and be treated as a "criminal" act!?  - Its all bollocks and I know what I'd rather see!

Bristol
I took a much needed trip to Bristol to visit a friend last summer, and while I was there my mind was truly blown by the sheer amount of amazing street art here. Street art seems to form an integral part of this culturally creative hub of a city. Every year a central street within the city closes itself off from traffic, or a building gives over the rights to its walls and the arts council invites emerging graffiti, mural and street artists (along with famous musicians, Dj's live speakers and food vendors) to fill the streets in an outdoor community "street-party" style event. Artists and creatives pick a wall and live paint new beautiful pieces on the walls of buildings, high-rises, walls lining roads, roads themselves, bus shelters - anything and everything. The artwork is so well received here that the weekend event is really successful for the city, bringing in many tourists and generating that much needed "community" feel within a busy environment. The artwork remains in place as a public "exhibit" for the year to follow - until artists are once again invited to return for the next years event. A lot of respect is shown here. Pieces are rarely painted over in the year to follow and once the year is up - artists give over the rights to their wall space and art - for the next artist to leave their mark. I would love to get involved and this might be a plan for me and my summer - if i have the confidence to in myself to create live art!

UPFEST!

http://www.upfest.co.uk/page/upfest-festival


My photos taken whilst visiting Bristol:

Pinterest board & Research - My collection of street / urban artwork / murals / street installations / sticker artwork that inspire me and have inspired my work so far throughout the course and this module. - Linking directly to my chosen area of context - object & environment:





ThoughtsWhat i find most engaging about this type of artwork is the consideration fro its place within environment as well as the fact that this is art brought to the public and not the other way around. The audience does not have to seek out the artist, already know about them or already have an interest it it and  they don't have to pay to go to an exhibition - this work is free and if for anyone to see and become a part of having  much more direct impact. Enabling people who would usually be exposed to this kind of creativity an insight into the world or art, design and creativity. Street art has a place and spreads creative love in my opinion, helping to build a larger creative community, industry and culture. It also injects a little shot of interest into the usual, normal and mundane.