This week we walked down to the St James Theater from our studio and explored its surroundings. Throughout the walk I recorded my observations and interpretation of colour and how it was applied to and expressed in the environment. Below are some drawings and photos I took.
These were some coloured sketches I took just outside of our Studio. I wanted to express the fluidity of the natural colours such as the plants through organic lines and the rigidness of the surrounding artificial city environment with straight lines. I started out with exploring color through its source and how I would portray this visually.
With these photographs I looked further at the contrast of ‘natural’ and ‘unnatural’ colour and also the vibrancy, impact and presence of applied colour through paint and how it interacts with its surroundings. I feel like when we talk about colour in terms of a space, we automatically consider applied colour. Although it was interesting to document and observe this colour within my surroundings, in terms of the project, I wanted to take a different approach to colour; not in the immediate response to colour.
As a traveled through campus and towards the site, I noticed the interesting shadows cast by the late morning sun, I found the shadows to be a describe-less and disregarded sense of colour that always exists within our surroundings and environment, is manipulated, altered and dependent and goes unnoticed as colour in the ‘normal’ sense.
As I moved down the hill closer to Mayoral Dr, I was able to study the trees I had previously captured in a sketch closer. I was fascinated with the way the light was filtrated through the tree giving a variety of tone and depth through the leaves. The slight transparency of the leaves allowed the natural light to organically drip through the density of the trees.
As I crossed the road, I noticed the shadows cast by the trees stretched across the walls of surrounding buildings and the concrete pathways. I yet again found this organic projection interesting. Not only its dependency on its surrounding environment but also the gentle and soft movement of the colour.
I made my way towards the site and noticed the sunlight reflection from the opposite building projected on the side of the Auckland Library. I found this projection very effective, although possibly not intention. The manipulation of the natural light casting pattern onto the building really intrigues me to look further into the light, shadow and reflection as a way of applying colour.
As I arrived at the site, I documented the surroundings including the art wall out the front and the library opposite. I found that there was a focus on the distraction from the derelict site to create a uplifting, pleasing atmosphere to draw the public down this section of Lorne St.
I found that in order to notice and appreciate the St James Theater Building there was a need to look up or look from a different perspective. I myself had walked past the site many a time and never noticed it. It has a sense of disregard because of its weathered appearance. It made me think about how I’ve become so accustomed to focusing on whats directly in front of me that I forget that there is a totally different landscape above my head in the city.
These images above are other documentations of colour around the site as well as some surrounding locators.
Spatial Design by Ciara 