This week was the first week of online learning. We began with a Virtual Studio exercise where we explored and observed a surface in our study space for 15 minutes. I chose to study the blinds next to my desk. The window is a East facing window, and as we did this exercise around 9:30am, I had the morning sun shining in through the blinds.
I chose the spot where I have a crystal sun-catcher hanging so that I could observe how the changing and manipulation of light over time and movement would impact the surface of the blinds.
What I found interesting was the triangular shapes the sun-catcher cast on the blinds along with the varying colours. I also liked how the movement of the sun-catcher imprinted movement on the surface. Below is a drawing of my observations.
When I was undertaking this observation of the blinds, it was quite overcast outside. Throughout the 15 minutes, the light from the sun was constantly brightening and dimming as clouds covered and uncovered the sun, exposing more and less light. This impacted the blinds as the surface not only lightened and darkened, but the projection from the sun-catcher faded in and out.
After individually observing our surfaces, we were put into randomly combined groups of four. In my group we discussed each of our surfaces and what we found interesting about them. What was fascinating was how we had all gravitated towards a surface involving a window.
After discussing our surfaces, we experimented with Blackboard Collaborate to see if we could create a collection of our images. After finding we could only share one image at a time, we created a group document and organised our images together.
It was quite interesting to see how, although we worked by ourselves without the influence of each other, all of our images had a similar aesthetic, lighting qualities and mood. It is quite fascinating how all of our images linked to each other unintentionally.
Spatial Design by Ciara 