Blog 5: Locovisual

Opened by the Governor General, Vascount Galway in June of 1937, the "gate-way" to Wellington, at least for commuters such as myself, the “Wellington Railway Station”. 

Both Neo-Classical, Victorian and rococo influences reside In the embodiment of Wellington Railway stations architecture, which has also been nationally recognized with the architectural significance due to the design and development by Gray Young, Morton and Young, and physical construction by Fletcher Construction.

"Much of New Zealand's architecture has been strongly influenced by overseas trends. In the mid 19th century, British immigrants favored the building types they had left behind" (Swarbrick. N., ‘Creative life – Architecture’. Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.). "Wellington Railway(train) Station" shows emphasis on this quotation, as it has it has strong links to the Neo-Classical architectural style.

The station portrays similarities of that of the  "Parthenon" which can be described as "The baseline for Neo-Classical taste and the greatest piece of ancient architecture",(J. Petty, personal communication, March 14, 2012.). As we see in the images below and above, a light, creamy exterior, smooth stone texture upon its classical, Parthenon throne.

 

Though classicism is the baseline influence, stated in the introduction, the "Rococo"  and Victorian styles also evident. Within the mantle of the station abides a Victorian, almost Gothic revival style clock of which rococo trim occupies the outer curb.  The rococo style was the ignition that pushed the limitations and boundaries of classical design with organic, curvilinear forms as we see trimmed around the clock evidence of this by leafy organic accents and ridged texture.

Though there many examples of mixed architectural design residing around the streets of Wellington, the Railway Station remains to be one of Wellingtons prides, historically and architecturally. 

Cracken, H. (2008). Wellington Railway Station. New Zealand Historic Places Trust Pouhere Taonga. 

Retrieved from: 
http://www.historic.org.nz/TheRegister/RegisterSearch/RegisterResults.aspx?RID=1452&m=Advanced 

Jason,P. (2012) The continuing Curve: Baroque and Rococo design [ PowerPoint slides]

Retrieved from:
http://schoolofdesign.ac.nz/mod/folder/view.php?id=434.

Nancy, S. 'Creative life - Architecture', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 15-Jun-10.

Retrieved from:
 http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/creative-life/4 

Sarah, C. (1730-2008).Rococo: The continuing surve. New York, NY:Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum.

Blog 4: Curatorial

Aluminum, the third most abundant element, the most abundant metal, used in architectural context like planes, some of our cars. Used and perceived a strong metal, an architectural strength, reduced to nothing  but , a spiraling imitation of draining liquid though spiral forms, a liquefied element.

 "Growth is a spiral process, doubling back on itself, reassessing and regrouping." - Julia Margaret Cameron 

Eddying spirals create fluid formality as a vortex of monochromatic aluminum gracefully flow throughout the object, surrounding , almost dominating but a sole strip of darkened wielding wire, which binds the spiraling vortex from falling asunder. "Growth is a spiral process, doubling back on itself, reassessing and regrouping." This emphasizes, the coil as it begins as one a singular entity, only  to stray from one another, not touching but simply hovering throughout while ignoring a simple wire which strives to match in shape and form, existing only to reassess and tame the unbound.

 

Fluid, the liquified Element

Weave

Fluidity is fabricated though spiraling curves. President image "The Liquefied Element"  was a  strong influence in the overall production of the model, the idea of turning fluidity into an element, line and curve constantly spiraling though out each other but never making contact, it's almost metallic, shiny surface encouraged me to use metal type materials, to capture light within the model

 "weave" influenced line. A line that gracefully passes though curvilinear forms changing path were it would otherwise touch and cause conflict between the two, the idea of an intellectual line, an intelligent form, awareness.

 

Quote received from: Brainyquotes, 2001. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/spiral.html. Bookrag Media Network
 

Artist unknown.(c. 2005)."Fluid, The Liquified Element."(Digital Art, Online Image), http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=Fluid+The+Liquified+Element#/ddxpbd

Artist unknown.(c. 2011)."Weave."(Digital Art, Online Image),http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=s0nova+weave#/d47fi9q