Project Two

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Project Two: Planar Artifact

DESCRIPTION

You have been assigned a Proun.

Proun begins as a level surface, turns into a model of three-dimensional space, and goes on to construct all the objects of everyday life. In this way Proun goes beyond painting and the artist on the one hand and the machine and the engineer on the other, and advances to the construction of space, divides it by the elements of all dimensions, and creates a new, many-faceted unity as a formal representation of nature.

-El Lissitzky, 1920

From an interpretation of the image assigned, construct an artifact entirely of planar materials, capable of reconfiguration through translational and/or rotational movement.

Your interpretation may be literal or figural, functional or abstract, but it will be derived from thoughtful and thorough consideration. You are not expected to research Lissitzky’s intentions. Instead, you will develop and implement your own interpretation of one of Lissitzky’s images. You will be expected to discuss your interpretation during your critique.

Your final artifact must be constructed entirely of planar materials, and your material palette must be carefully chosen in accordance with your interpretation. Craft is extremely important for this assignment, and you are strongly encouraged to make extensive use of the First Year Shop.

Your artifact must be sturdy, and its reconfiguration must be operable by the uninitiated. The connections in your artifact will figure prominently: consider them carefully, both in terms of their operability and in terms of their visual impact.

Part 1: Due Monday, September 28 at 4:30PM
Prepare a minimum of three mock-ups of potential artifacts, constructed of corrugated cardboard only. The mock-ups may be of any scale, and they are not required to be capable of reconfiguration. The purpose of the mock-ups is to explore possible interpretations and obtain feedback from me: appearance is not important. Create as many mock-ups as you need to fully develop your ideas.

Part 2: Due Monday, October 5 at 4:30PM
Prepare a set of accurate free-hand orthographic and/or isometric drawings of the final mock-up of your proposed artifact. The drawings should be on white 11” x 17” paper, and should all be the same scale. The drawings should represent materials, specify connections and indicate translation and/or rotation through the use of line only: do not employ colour or shading. The purpose of the drawings is to detail your interpretation and obtain further feedback from me. Create as many drawings as you need to fully represent your artifact.

Part 3: Due Monday, October 19 at 4:30PM
Your completed Planar Artifact, displayed as appropriate for critique, along with a curated selection of your cardboard mock-ups, technical drawings, and any other critical process work, posted to the course blog. The presentation and critique of Prouns 1-6 will be begin at 4:30PM, and the presentation and critique of Prouns 7-12 will begin at 6:00PM.

Part 4: Due Thursday, October 22 at 4:30PM
Three photographs of your completed Planar Artifact, posted to the course blog. Append these photographs to the same post as your process material.

PROUN ASSIGNMENTS

EVALUATION

Part 1:
Exploration (cardboard mock-up ambition and rigour): /3

Part 2:
Representation (technical drawing quality and accuracy): /3

Part 3:
Material (suitability, creativity and ambition): /2
Craft (suitability of technique and skill of execution): /3
Operability (suitability and functionality): /3
Presentation (physical and rhetorical): /2
Formal Impact (subjective and transcendental qualities): /2

Part 4:
Blog Post (comprehensiveness and curation): /2

Total: /20

THE PROUNS