ONLINE GREENLIGHT

REVIEW PART 1 - SPACE &

ENVIRONMENT - THE
WHAT IF METROPOLIS
05/11/14
Chelsea Butler

Contents

Who is Richard Deacon?

Definitive Influence Map
Travelogue
Initial Thumbnail Designs
Useful Links

Who is Richard Deacon?

Richard Deacon is a Welch born
sculptor, but also involves himself
within areas such as writing and
working with mixed media. He
refers to himself as a fabricator,
rather than a constructor.
Deacons interests come in a
wide variety, including rocks and
minerals, animals, skeletal
structures, and even a chain that
he found on the street. Deacon is
inspired by anything that
interests him.

Definitive
Influence Map
For this influence map, I was rather
inspired by Richard Deacons ceramic
work. With the way he has created a
polished finish on his sculptures gives a
very Emerald City sort of appearance,
which I found rather intriguing. I also
included fluid abstract forms, such as a
snakes bone structure, and architecture
that demonstrates negative space. I also
imagine the potential buildings to have
some form of metal framing to them, as
Deacon has been known to use mixed
media. My idea was to create a
mysteriously intricate city, with a green
tint to, so it looks extravagant, but doesnt
feel like a homely place. Rather, it would
be made to feel quite alien.

Travelogue
It has been a while since you last saw any form of life along the dusty, barren pathway. The road ahead is a long one,
and the rocky terrain at the foot of the towering mountains is a treacherous path to travel. Any traveller is advised to
remain cautious of the cavernous depths of the mountains pathway. Trekking onwards, the path becomes thinner;
more narrow, as you progress. But wait. You spy an opening. Perhaps a way out. The light draws nearer as you push
forward, tip toeing between the tight spaces of the rocks and rubble scattering the path. It gradually becomes closer.
You finally make it out. And there it is. Amplexus.
Stumbling through the gap, you venture on to this strange environment. As you gaze upwards, you are only just able to
decipher the peak of the monuments buildings aligned along the road into the city. Each building varies in height and
shape. The abstract forms of the mass amount of structures leaves one puzzled, as it is difficult to determine where the
entrance and exits are placed. The buildings have many features to them, be they incredibly large, or moderately
sized, with chiselled edges and cubic towers, or curvaceous domes as smooth as porcelain, no two buildings are the
same. Upon first impressions, one would assume that Amplexus has a thriving trading service as there is a vast amount
of materials incorporated into the citys structures. From rubber and leather, to glass, ceramics, chrome and metals like
steel and copper, it diverts any visitors eye to roam across the intricate patterns of each surface.
If you were to delve deeper into the cities heart, you will find an obscure building. This building has many poles and
beams supporting the curves of each wall. In the centre of this building, a tower of immense height rises up towards
the cloudless sky, looking down on the city itself. This tower is of great importance, for it is the main power source, the
heart, of the entire city. It is uncertain to outsiders as to what this form of energy could be, but if you were to get
close enough to the tower, even behind the wired fencing, you would be able to feel a heated breeze, as radiation emits
from the base of the tower.

Navigating through Amplexus is quite the task if you dont live there. The twisting and turning of the pavement as you round
the corner of a building is known to leave one feeling lost. It is advised that you use local transportation as a method of getting
around the area. A vehicle, resembling that of a tram, pulls up next to the pavement, but there is no specific stop sign to signal
it to come to a halt. But this mode of transport is different to any other tram that you may recognise. This, cart, is made of
steel, with a glossy silver exterior that glistens in the daylight. The large glass window at the drivers end of the cart, at a glance,
appears to make the vehicle look like a large metal beast with a gaping maw. As the doors slide open, you expect to see a
driver. Or so you thought. But rather, instead of a driver, there is a speaker. Nothing more, nothing less. As the speaker buzzes
to life, you just about make out the muffled response of, where are you travelling to?. Trembling ever so slightly at the lack of
human interaction, you state where you wish to head, only to then be directed to take a seat. The interior of the cart is simple.
With a ceramic ceiling design, large windows that almost replace the walls, wooden flooring, and leather-bound seats that run
along the edges of the cart, creating an aisle down the middle. The cart then whizzes off, running on nothing else but a
singular rail running down the middle of each road you come across. Although intimidating, it is for the best to be chauffeured
by this strange contraption. Besides, the carts seem to have a better sense of direction than any life form living here.
As the evenings draw in, pathways are lit by large bulbs trapped in circular cages, held up by stilt like posts, casting beams of
light onto the stone slabs that is the pathway, and onto the solemn faces of the city folk that reside in the abstract apartments
and houses. It leaves the mind wandering through each crevice carved out of the buildings. Its like peering through a telescope
into an other worldly dimension, as if somewhat alien. Perhaps a little outlandish, as some would describe the area. The colour
green glows and illuminates the cityscape as the moonlight hits the tinted buildings and structures, and yet, one can neither feel
at home, nor does he wish to leave just yet.
Walking through the streets and alleyways, it bewilders you as to how you are capable of seeing the stars so clearly at night,
especially with the amount of light pollution the lamps are creating. People have been suspicious about the citys behaviour,
including the placement and how each occupant is blissfully unaware of how peculiar their settlement is to an outsider. As if
they were brainwashed.
Its strange, Amplexus has been known to fabricate buildings of unimaginable structures. It is forever remodelling and
improving itself. The reason it is a city is due to the fact that it is forever expanding, and consistently creating new buildings.
There is a beginning to the city, but no end. Analysing your recordings of your time in Amplexus, each set of buildings appear
in one manner, and then as you progress down the streets, you notice that each design of the buildings gradually evolve into
another form of architecture, giving themselves a new appearance, even to the extent of incoherency. The ever changing
mindset of Amplexus is fascinating, and as visitors come and go, they would simply ask the residents, Is the city unfinished? Is
it still under construction?, to which they shall reply, We are simply improving. We are moving forward..That is Amplexus
mentality. To enlarge, to increase, to improve.

Useful Links
Blog Links:
http://chelsea-a-butler.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/what%20if%20metropolis
http://chelsea-a-butler.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/life%20drawing
http://chelsea-a-butler.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/maya
http://chelsea-a-butler.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/film%20review
http://chelsea-a-butler.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/project-what-if-metropolis-travelogue.html
External Reference Links:
http://www.theartsdesk.com/visual-arts/richard-deacon-tate-britain
http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/exhibition/richard-deacon
http://www.tate.org.uk/context-comment/video/tateshots-richard-deacon
http://www.lissongallery.com/artists/richard-deacon