IDEATION
Reviewing the last stage of ideation, I feel like the chemical film developing idea conceives too much randomness and doesn't leave many things to fabricate, while the multi-angle letter sculpture might be too still and unflexible. How can the work be surprising while having the generated result designed? Danny suggested shadow art.
CONTENT
I want the object and its shadow to both be a part of the scene and collaborate to tell the story. So, the material and composition matter as much as the shape does.
ANGLES
I plan to make multiple scenes exist in the same sculpture. Vectorwork is capable for preview. The light can generate scenes one after another to make a linear narration.
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LIGHT ANRRANGEMENT
where to project the shadows? on the floor or to the wall?
Can I make the space part of the scene? What story am I going to tell? Is the story only visible from a specific perspective?
Am I going to guide the audience to experience the space with the shadow?
does the sculpture move?
NARRATION & CONCEPT
A narration idea occurred to me. I can make two scenes visually of two characters fighting against each other. It can be an endless wrestle. When one attacks, the attack causes its fade and triggers the other one to attack. Light sensors and motors are capable to make the narration stopless. For example, a motor controls the sculpture to shade a shadow on a light sensor, which triggers the other motor's movement and it makes another shadow visualizing another round of the fight. One scene triggers the other's appearance, the shadow fight will never end.
The idea of an endless fight recalls the myth of Sisyphus. The rock rolling down is inevitable, and the ambition to bring it back to the top lies in Sisyphus's nature and cannot be eliminated. Thus, the attempt to push the stone up becomes a cycle.
I am so obsessed with the story of Sisyphus and the concept of inevitable failure. I want to build this narration with the conflicting nature of light and shadow. I will make the failure of chasing a goal inevitable. And the failure has to be a result of the light's nature.
I plan to drive the shadow movement by mechanical method. The light will shade shadows from a different angle to play an animation frame by frame. There will be a light to be chased. When the character approaches the light spot, the shadow figure eliminates in the light.
The shadow Sisyphus is born from light and was killed by light in its pursuit. Sisyphus only exists on the way of chasing. Unachieved ambition makes Sisyphus exist.
The shadow animation playback will be powered by the spectator by rolling a crank. The rush of Sisyphus depends on the attempt of the person holding the crank. Sisyphus embodies you.
