Posted by Harry
Accessories | 26 Jun 07 | Comments (6) | Stumble
Graphic Designer Joshua Davis and design studio Commonwealth have created a series of vases using animation software exported to rapid prototyping. Commonwealth digitally designed and manufactured the base object which was then used to make a limited series of 21 porcelain vases by Boehm Porcelain. Davis then wrote software programs for the graphic paint that uniquely details each digital-porcelain vase. Joshua Davis has also done a new, computationally driven set of prints for the show as well. More after the jump.
Commonwealth created this object in Maya, the same animation software used for animated 3D films.
These are the stereo lithography "prints".
The procelain vase by Boehm Porcelain with the unique graphic paint by Joshua Davis.
Also on show, Joshua Davis' computationally driven set of prints curated by Maxalot.
Damn, I love his prints.
I go back and forth on program-driven work. As graphics, his work is always spectacular, but I often wonder if I would consider it "art". There's something about watching him click a button and then print out the result that feels a little empty.
Not that I could do it! I seriously almost bought one of his prints for BMW Z4.
Damn, and I love those Vases.
I know what you mean, Jw about clicking buttons- But I think that that is why I love this collection so much-
It is so interesting how Commonwealth took something that started in the computer and ended up making it in the oldest of materials. I'm so sick of alien sci-fy renderings- I'm thinking of getting my hands on one. These are sumptuous.
As for Joshua's print work- Computer or no computer- this stuff is seriously cool.
are these available for purchase? Beautiful.
What are we to make of this work?
Clearly, there is more than is what is 'seen' by the eye- What are the 'commentaries' on changes in technology and manufacturing? This is a very interesting manifestation. Artistically, collaboration (also with handcrafts and digital developments) can bear many fruits.
hi everybody,
thanks for the comments.
the prints are available from here :
http://www.maxalot.com/art/davis/tropism/davis_tropism_art_all.shtml
and let me also just say -- while the end result may only require me to press a key to re-run the program to generate a new visual output. The time and process it takes to make this happens is far longer than if I just opened Illustrator or took paint and a brush and made one piece of work.
the pay off ? A final system that's able to generate an infinite amount of compositions.
josh- I've been following your work for years. Great to see your work migrating off the page and into three dimensional space- I didn't expect to see you in the realm of Mocoloco. Commonwealth- great work. I look forward to seeing more in the future-
As for the first comment (Jw)- isn't it very Art Theory101, to question the seriousness of digitally generated art? Obviously this print work wasn't created with a click of a button. What I enjoy about this project overall, is what it reflects about our ability to move across mediums with new tools. Josh's print work continues to evolve beautifully. I consider it compliment to his work, that a reader assumes this was done with such ease.
What I feel is lacking from this project, is a further description of how the collaboration unfolded- How did the studios work together? How did the combined work emerge? Through drawing? Through modeling?
Fascinating project. I look forward to hearing more.