Paul Elia: Untitled
Artist(s):
Title:
- Untitled
Exhibition:
Creation Year:
- 2003
Size:
- 9.75 in x 6 in x 7 in
Category:
Keywords:
Artist Statement:
I create sculptures in glass, bronze, and aluminum. While visiting a friend, I noticed a strange machine humming away in the middle of his office. I had never seen anything like this before. It was a rapid prototyper “printing” a 3D model. I was captivated and fascinated. Before my eyes, the image on a computer screen was being made into a solid. While my friend was using the machine for a prototype automotive part, I instantly saw a place in the art world for this technology. I researched, then purchased solid modeling software and took a course in 3D modeling.
The theme of this untitled piece is that of an eye seeing fire and water interact. fire is represented by a flame (the ends), and water is represented by a wave (the top). The eye is represented by eyelids looking upward (the base). After drawing sketches on paper, I drew the shapes on my computer. After all the elements were drawn in wireframe, I changed the splines and curves into a solid. I was fascinated to see how the computer seamlessly blended the three elements together. Where the wave rolled down, the flame became compressed, and where the eyelids widened so did the flame. It was magical!
The “solid” was exported to an STL (stereolithography) file, and the sculpture took form when it was made into an ABS piece. Once the prototype was made, I used wax and plaster to make molds for casting. I have produced this sculpture in glass, bronze, and aluminum.
This form of artwork is a fusion of old and new. Created with technology, it is a mesh of thousands of odd triangles on the screen (an art form unto itself), yet it utilizes the age-old method of lost wax and plaster to become a reality.
The result is an organic sculpture that magnetically beckons those who pass by to reach out and touch it.
Affiliation Where Artwork Was Created:
- Studio Elia
