FLOATING FIGURES
//thedeadpixelproject and Andrei Smolik
Today, our lives are defined more by digital
data than at any other point in history. In this
context, experiences of place increasingly
have less to do with our physical relations with
the world around us and more to do with the
selfies, tweets, GPS directions, and Facebook
updates that fight for our attention. To draw
attention to the importance of the places we
inhabit sometimes requires things to appear out
of context in order to snap us out of transience
of everyday life. In this sense, public art can
be a powerful force for establishing stronger
connections to particular spaces through
the establishment of vectors of attention that
become associated with place-identity.
To this end, our approach to the brief revolves
around the creation of a series of ‘floating
figures’, interactive sculptures that evoke the
character of Subiaco and provide a strong
visual statement. These vibrant, colourful forms
appear like virtual objects that have been
superimposed upon the streetscape while at
the same time evoking impressions of human,
animal, and atmospheric entities. These objects
are composed of ‘voxels’, three dimensional
pixels that are partly generated through 3D
scans of cultural, historical and natural artefacts
with significance to Subiaco. At night the forms
will come to life as wireframes that dramatically
shift their appearence through waves of
gradational hues that warm in response to the
activity around them.
We believe that these works will be an
important addition to the newly revitalised
Rockeby Road streetscape providing a playful
and imaginative aesthetic that engages the
public on a human scale as an interesting
visual attraction for all ages. These objects will
provide for a visual spectacle that derives from
the unique character of Subiaco while proudly
asserting its future ambition as a major center
of activity.