The Conceptual Idea
Our third and final workshop 'Montage It' required two photomontages and a flipbook of a spatial experience we create through the use of images, collaging, models and inspiration. I took my given inspiration from the given image of the sand bag structures. The given image made me think to explore harsh environments and ways in which one can be protected within such environments just as refugees are protected from the harsh desert environment by the sand bag structures they call their home.
Therefore I started researching the different harsh environments that one may encounter including rainforests, the ocean, the arctic, deserts and outer space. Rainforests seemed realistic yet exciting so jumped out at me much more than the other environments. Then I brainstormed methods of protection in an environment such as a wild rainforest and came up with the idea of a spatial experience within an ancient old hollow tree and the tree as protection from the outside environment. Through advice from my tutors I settled on a spatial experience through the inside and root system of an ancient rainforest tree.
The Model
To model my tree I decided to use clay since it had a more natural appearance than balsa wood and other materials. The original model created was a terracotta colour and had a connective path between the tree and the other exit of the root system. To make my model look more realistic I spray painted it a dark brown colour. I also ended up splitting the model up into its separate pieces and eliminating the middle clay path altogether in order to make the montages look more realistic and to reinforce that there is a spatial connection and experience between the two below the ground; that they are not connected by anything above.
Photomontages
For my photomontages I took photos of my model taking shadows, light and positioning into consideration so all aspects of the model within a chosen context appear natural. For my daytime montage I used the rainforest background as my context. I included people to reinforce a sense of scale but had to touch up the narrow exit of the root system using photoshop colouring techniques such as paint.
For the night time photomontage I took photos of my model at night time outside and used a lit candle within the model to create a glow affect within the model. For my context I used a night shot of the water and photoshopped rough terrain and a cliff face to ensure the overall composition appeared natural. I overall found photoshop quite hard to comprehend with this being the first time I have experienced it so used as many alternative methods as possible to limit the work and skills required through photoshop.
The Flipbook
Through my flipbook I take readers through the root system of my modelled tree, exploring the inside of the tree and spatial experiences in the roots below. To collage the flipbook I spray painted paper with the same colours as the model itself, colour coded various materials within the structure. To bind the flipbook I used a vine off a tree so as to reinforce the natural experience of walking within an enormous hollow tree.
