Place In Question

Zakriya Chughtai
Place in Question assignment 2015

Location studies
After first receiving what location I was
given, we where made to examine the
location through looking at different
aspects and drawing the location from
all angles to try and capture the bigger
picture. Then due to my location being
boring in my opinion, I tried to focus in
on major parts like the lamp post, trees
and bushes. To try and show the
overhanging space, I drew quick linear
drawing to show the gloomy
atmosphere.
The materials which were used are ink,
charcoal, coffee and pastel. The ink was
used to produce sharp details however
the charcoal and graphite were used to
give softer tones. When drawing with
graphite, the texture reminded me of
being twisted, wiry and tube-like. What I
enjoyed working with the most was the
ink because of the deep black and the
intricate marks it can create.

Location studies
SketchUp and Movie
Looking at the area, I decided to pick out key features of it and tried to recreate them in Google SketchUp. The first aspect I decided to
recreate was the lamp post. I used the measurements of the base; which I took and some estimations for the rest. What I like is the curvature
mixed with a linear approach. Next I moved onto the trees, where I drew the outline then started to lift and twist the shape multiple times, to
represent the forms in the trees. To produce a more realistic representation of the bushes I input them from the 3D warehouse. Next I gave
each aspect colour and shadow to make the atmosphere more realistic. To develop these designs I used them to influence my 3D model of my
given location.

Making and
developmental work -
(Large drawing, 3D, print)
For the larger drawings I
incorporated mainly every aspect I
sketched. The materials used were
charcoal, ink, graphite, acrylic and
textured papers. I wouldn’t change
a lot as I am happy the way it
turned out. If I were to change
anything it would be to take away
from some of the literal aspects of
artwork. This is the reason why I
want it showing upside down, so
some parts are more questionable.
What I think went well is how the
artwork is split into 3 sections and
how the overlapping parts bring
them altogether.
For the next artwork I used the
same materials and subjects. I
enjoyed using the ink, so I wanted
to include more of that in this
artwork. The use of colour defines
more parts which was done by
using orange, green, blue and
brown. The scale of the lamp post
and natural aspects adds to the
contrast between man-made and
nature.
When first thinking
of designs and ideas
for my 3D model I
was inspired by the
shapes and forms in
my Google SketchUp.
I took inspiration from the linear aspects and developed
them into the design for my model. The materials used
in the model are wood, copper rods and electric wire.
The inspiration for the use of electric wire came from
the sculptor Judit Rita Judit Rita Raboczky.
To create my dry point prints first
looked at the work of Lesser Ury. His
work inspired me to scratch into the
plastic sheet in a similar way he does. I
did this using a compass and traced the
image of leaves from my primary
drawings. When printing the paper had
to be damp and I used scrim to apply
and tissue paper to block out ink. I was
pleased in how they turned out, due to
them capturing a large range of tones
from black to white. The blocked out
negatives eventually helped develop
the ideas for my final 3D model.

Using historical and contemporary research
Judit Rita Raboczky helped me decide on how to
portray the tree in my 3D sculpture. Firstly looking
at my drawings I thought they were very twisted
which made me thick whether I could use electric
wire as material. Looking at Raboczky’s artwork
she influenced the way I would use the wire. What
I learnt from her was to use a frame underneath
then intertwine the wire to create the wanted
aesthetics.
Lesser Ury influenced my prints. I wanted to use a
similar style of how he scratched into the surface
for his own print. He did this with a lot of short and
sketchy marks which also created a lot of soft mid
tones. What I leant when doing my print was that I
had to be careful on placement of the ink and how
much I had to use. I also realised that what made
his prints appealing were the range of tones from
light to dark.
Toyo Ito’s pavilion in the serpentine gallery highly
influenced my final piece due to segmented
design. This made me want to use a similar style of
design. What I learnt was that Ito based the entire
design from the geometrics of a cube. This made
me wonder whether if I could do the same,
however base my pavilion from the forms of
leaves.

Developing your
personal brief
After first looking at my 3D piece I realised
that I wanted to go down an architectural
route due to some of the shapes and forms in
the piece. What also enforced this the fact
that I am applying for architecture for
university, therefore this would be a good way
to add to my portfolio. Next I looked at the
Serpentine Gallery where every year an
architect designs a pavilion. Due to my
preliminary location being in Esher college, I
thought it would be a good idea to make a
small model shelter/pavilion for the college. I
wanted to make a small sized shelter/pavilion
so that it could be placed anywhere around
the college outside, with little constraints.
I started by doing
some sketches of
different designs and
patterns. I liked the
idea of interlocking
and negatives.

Developing your
personal brief
I started by taking inspiration from the negatives and arc shapes in my print by producing a simple overlapping leaf pattern. This helped me visualise a floor
design which I was thinking of. Next, to develop this I wanted the roof design to have a correlation to the floor. Which is why I used acetate to trace out
negatives within the shapes of the leaves. Following this, I picked up on the floor design again, by creating a recurring leaf design, by using a compass. I did
this to neaten up my preliminary thoughts and so it could be used for the use of a tile. I liked how the leaves gradually becomes negatives as you move
down, due to the arcs. To enforce this I thought it would be a good idea to have the two back rows of leaf tiling to be risen to how the change and impose
the overlapping theme of the tiles. Finally picking up the roof design again, I also wanted to neaten it up by making it geometric and linear to contrast with
the curves in the floor. This would overall show the contrast between man-made and natural. In-between the panels in the roof, I wanted to place a glass
panel over for protection from the elements.
Then to help visualise my final piece I cut out the tile pieces
which would be used, and tried to replicate how the back tiles
could be risen. I first tried slotting them within each other, and
gluing it with hot glue. This didn’t work and looked very messy.
The next idea I had was to individually cut blocks of wood at an
angle to hold the tiles up individually. This led to me to think of
holding the roof up with the same blocks of wood.

Applying Professional;
practice in your work
To start creating my final piece I started to cut my shapes using a scroll saw. I decided to use a scroll saw
to cut the foam board because it gave a smooth and precise edge without to much force. When I tested
a scalpel it took up a lot of time and the edges were not clean. I was also informed to use a laser cutter
to cut foam board because the laser burns the edges which leaves them frilled and it can smoke. After
cutting the pieces all out I sanded them down to refine them all. I also used the scroll saw to cut the
roof pieces which then copper rods were slotted through to hold them together. A piece of acetate was
then placed over the roof using hot glue to replicate glass to defend the people underneath from the
elements. For the back row of tiles I cut 5cm tall wooden blocks with an angle of 40 degrees cut off; for
the second row I cut 3cm blocks with an angle of 30 degrees cut off using a saw. To stick the pieces
together I used super glue. Finally I wanted to have only 3 pillars to hold up 3 of the corners of the roof
so that one corner would slant down therefore letting the elements roll off using gravity. To create
somewhere to rest, I drilled holes in the pillars to fit wooden rods to allow people to lean on them.
When using the
scroll saw I had to
be careful when
handling the
foam board in
case of cutting my
finger. I also had
to wear goggles
to protect myself
from the blade or
any off cuts which
break and fly off.
Again when
using the
drill I had to
be careful on
where I
placed my
fingers in
case of the
drill bit
hitting my
finger.
Lastly I also needed to be
weary when using the saw. I
had to watch where I was
putting my fingers in case of
me accidently getting too
close and eventually cutting
my finger.

Evaluation of the project
I spent quite a lot of time on the project, during lesson and almost everyday after school, trying to come up with ideas and
topping up analysis and annotation. To try and come up with new ideas I tried to look at as many artists and designers as
possible to gain inspiration for my own work. Stages which were more difficult than others were definitely being decisive on
my final piece and in what direction I should take it in. This for me was the hardest part due to it taking up a lot of thought.
What I most enjoyed was surveying the area and getting stuck by creating 3D models. Not a lot of things went wrong in my
opinion, however when creating the model for the final piece, I was at first going to use balsa wood but it kept breaking
when being drilled into. Therefore I had to change the type of wood I were to use to a thicker and firmer wood. I also feel
that overall my final piece and preliminary drawings turned out well. The drawing helped to force me in the right direction
whilst also creating a solid base to start from. The final piece also eventually turned out aesthetically how I wanted it to, and
it looks like it could serve the purpose of a shelter/pavilion well in reality.
I researched into a range of artists and artworks for this project however the main influences were, Judit Rita Raboczky,
Lesser Ury, Toyo Ito, Eduardo Chillida and Will Alsop. Raboczky helped develop my first 3 model of my location, Lesser Ury
influenced my prints, Toyo Ito helped progress my ideas for my final 3D model, Chillida inspired aspects of my prints and final
Alsop helped with the design process for my final piece. The primary and secondary drawing which were taken had a large
influence on the direction I took for this project. This was mainly done through my first hand drawings of the bushes and
leaves which were the made the subject of my prints. The prints then helped develop forms and shapes which would in the
long term help decide on what I would base my final piece on, which was the forms of the leaves. The main sources to find
artists and artworks of inspiration was the internet and books.
There was lots of development which took place before coming up with my final outcome. A large part of my development
was doing dry point prints. To better the prints I could have created a larger range and taken more time when applying ink
and producing the print to create a better look and more prints which could have led to more ideas. When creating the 3D
model of my location I knew what I wanted to do due to my planning and drawings. This made it easier to make. Although as
previously discussed the main influence on this project were the primary drawings and dry point prints.

Place In Question

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