Really unexpected, or unexpectedly real?

“Reality leaves a lot to the imagination.”
― John Lennon
Object and image, Tony Gray 2011.

I wouldn’t really expect to find this object, suspended in air in the middle of a warehouse space (or anywhere else for that matter). Yet it is a very “real” object, in a very real space.

Only it’s not.It’s a 3-D model generated by my partner using sophisticated engineering software. He has used tools which allow engineers to optimise the design of objects – from the tiniest bottle cap to whole, multi-storey buildings; and applied them to the creation of an object that has no obvious function but to be looked at. He has created a work of art.

But of course, he hasn’t really. He has created a visual representation of a set of mathematical equations and placed the result on a photographic background. He didn’t have to use this background – and with other models he hasn’t.

“To expect the unexpected shows a thoroughly modern intellect.”
— Oscar Wilde

The object could be real; he could take the output file generated from the modelling process and send it to a 3-D printer. He could make this sculpture extremely large, or very small. He could reproduce it as many times as he wanted (or could afford) to.

He would like to do this. I kind of want him not to. I like that he can create virtual “sculptures” and exhibit them anywhere in the world (or in space I suppose) without using up any physical resources beyond those needed to generate the model. I like the way he can exhibit in multiple places at once and can (using some other cool bits of software) generate a walk-through, walk around experience for the viewer. I like that this plays with space and time and with our expectations – of what is art and what is real.

“Stay focused to the unexpected. Sometimes it’s life’s conundrums that take us exactly where we need to and least expected.”
— Kemmy Nola

This post was written in response to the Daily Post Weekly Photographic Challenge.

Here are some other posts I enjoyed:

http://lanterfanteren.blogspot.be/2013/11/unexpected-onverwacht.html

http://curlybug.wordpress.com/2013/11/25/weekly-photo-challenge-unexpected/

http://mang0pe0ple.wordpress.com/2013/11/25/weekly-photo-challenge-unexpected/

preservation

http://pleisbilongtumi.wordpress.com/2013/11/25/weekly-photo-challenge-unexpected/

http://brokenlightcollective.wordpress.com/2013/11/25/unexpected/

Unexpected

http://pattisjarrett.wordpress.com/2013/11/25/weekly-photo-challenge-unexpected/

http://livelaughlovetravel.org/2013/11/25/weekly-photo-challenge-unexpected-my-summer-adventure/

Weekly Photo Challenge: Unexpected

http://18millionpixels.com/2013/11/25/weekly-photo-challenge-unexpected/

http://vonnscottbair.wordpress.com/2013/11/26/the-tiger-house-the-latest-san-francisco-snippets-weekly-photo-challenge-unexpected/

Very British