WORK 04
An urban study
Sgraffito is an urban exploration studying a condition of culture, and then condensing it as an institution. Centering on a site in Downtown South Gay Street, in Knoxville, TN, the inspiration behind the project was the Graffiti surrounding the area.
Among the first steps of this project, was looking into the history of graffiti, and studying the cultural phenomenon. The exploration into the etymology of the word ‘Graffiti’, actually sparked the major inspiration behind this project. As well as the shape and graphic properties of the graffit found on and around the site. The word ‘Graffiti’ comes from the word ‘Sgraffito’, an art process in which a layer is etched away to reveal another layer below.
This area was actually a high traffic area, but despite this high usage, it was seldom used in the long term. Most of the traffic was only occuring for short durations. The infrastructure in the area didn’t support long term inhabitation, and there was a distinct lack of social programming. In response to that, this project was designed to address that, and provide both. This Sgraffito was attempting to create a deep groove in the hustle and bustle of daily downtown life.
When studying Graffiti as an artistic style, I contextualized it into a single, representational form. This study occured over several medias, including photography, modeling, crocheting, painting, and tagging on canvas. Eventually, a final form was created, and this contextualized graffiti was then centered on the property, and the building was built around it.
Furthermore, the structure, seen here faintly in the progress drawings, is an interactive pathway. The shape was designed to create movement through the building. Some areas inspiring quick moment, while others encourage long pause. It was designed to be both a community center and museum, and the paths and movement through the building was the graffiti.
Inspired by Analytiques, a style of design where a single drawing of a building is often surrounded or combined with other pieces or details of the design. As a result, the project is meant to be seen as both instantaneous little moments and contrasted with the whole design.
The graffiti seen is from my own work, and the images were created using a mixture of rhino, photoshop and illustrator. The renders were intentionally created to not be photorealistic, and to have that flow often associated with graffiti. This was another of my earlier works.
Some of my rough drafts of my research and attempts to create a single form. Process work and discarded rough drafts can often times back to play in a later stage of the project, which was incredibly true for this project. Additionally, I ended up creating a series of coasters, and crocheted forms that were suspended between frames, but have not been included in the images for this post.
May your coffee mugs be full, & your inkwells never run dry!
