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Tropism Vase
by Harry / June 26, 2007


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.

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tropism_vase_commonwealth.jpg
Commonwealth created this object in Maya, the same animation software used for animated 3D films.


tropism_vase_commonwealth_2.jpg
These are the stereo lithography "prints".


tropism_boehm_porcelain.jpg
The procelain vase by Boehm Porcelain with the unique graphic paint by Joshua Davis.


tropism_joshua_davis_prints.jpg
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.


Jw / June 27, 2007 at 11:32 AM / Flag

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.

EssenL / June 28, 2007 at 9:51 AM / Flag

are these available for purchase? Beautiful.

xtra-T / June 29, 2007 at 9:17 AM / Flag

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.

Trevor / July 2, 2007 at 11:52 AM / Flag

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.

joshua davis / July 5, 2007 at 9:20 PM / Flag

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.

aspect / July 6, 2007 at 10:12 AM / Flag

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