'The Hurwitz Singularity'

‘The Hurwitz Singularity’ “In a moment of self-doubt in 2003, (Portrait of Edward VI, 1546) I rushed I wondered into the National Portrait home and within hours was devouring Gallery and tumbled across a strange the works of Escher, Da Vinci and many anamorphic piece by William Scrots more. In a breath I had found ‘brothers’.” 2 The art of anamorphic perspective. Not being the only one perspective has been to admire Hurwitz’s work, Colossal present, in the world of art, Magazine identified that ‘some Tsince the great Leonardo figurative sculptors carve their Da Vinci. It can be said that Da Vinci artworks from unforgiving stone, was the first artist to use anamorphic while others carefully morph the perspective, within the arts, followed human form from soft blocks of clay. by legends such as Hans Holbein Artist Jonty Hurwitz begins with over and Andreas Pozzo, who also used a billion computer calculations before anamorphic perspective within their spending months considering how to art. The two principal techniques materialize his warped ideas using of Anamorphosis are ‘perspective perspex, steel, resin, or copper.’[3] (oblique) and mirror (catoptric).’ [1] The Technique that I will be discussing is most familiar to relate to oblique Anamorphosis. It can be created using Graphic design techniques of perspective and using innovative print and precise design strategies. My first interest in anamorphic perspective was when producing an entry for the ‘Design Museum; 2014 Competition brief: Surprise.’[2] The theme of Surprise led me to discover the astonishment that viewers of anamorphic perspective art felt. Artists such as Jonty Hurwitz, joseph Egan and hunter Thomson; all of which are recognised for their modern approach to Anamorphosis, also created this amazement with their art. I developed a certain interest in Jonty Hurwitz’s art when coming across his perspective sculpture ‘The Hurwitz Singularity,’ a piece of art that is a three-dimensional scan of the unique Hurwitz’s face that has been divided and positioned to create an element of anamorphic 3 namorphic perspective for most of his art. Although an artist, and physics fanatic, unusual alteration in his work, it Hurwitz has sparked my is Hurwitz’s interest in algorithms A interest of anamorphic that is the source of his knowledge design through his multiple on financial loaning. Hurwitz’s sculptures and use of 3D printing. knowledge of finance combined with Focusing on Hurwitz was centred on his art can be seen as an insight the way in which he uses anamorphic into the meaning of some of his perspective to stun and captivate most captivating pieces of art such the viewers of his art as well as my as ‘The Thinker’, which is found interest in the way he maintains his in Tower 42 in London. Hurwitz creativity through the collaboration has continually produced work, for of design and physics. Hurwitz was the simple reason to just create art; born in 1969 in Johannesburg South each project Hurwitz has taken in Africa, the largest and wealthiest his stride has been a standard set by province of the developing country. himself into creating marvel art and However, Hurwitz currently lives in continues like that throughout his London where he focuses on both career. Although his art is focused his artwork and his financial loan on anamorphosis, it is Hurwitz’s company. The atmosphere and three-dimensionally printed Nano- scene of London could in fact be the sculpture that he has excelled in inspiration of his artworks, as they greatest. The sculptures have been appear to relate to his financial work recognised as the smallest in the or inspiration that he has found world and have been commended when living in London. Within his by The Independent’ and ‘iGNANT’ website blog, Hurwitz explains how creative arts blog. Hurwitz received “In a moment of self-doubt in 2003, multiple art awards such as the I wondered into the National Portrait ‘Noble Sculpture prize’ in Italy 2009 Gallery and stumbled across a as well as ‘Gofigurative Art Prize’ strange anamorphic piece by William in London 2010 and a great quantity Scrots (Portrait of Edward VI, more nominations. As well as 1546)… I rushed home and within awards, Hurwitz has accomplished hours was devouring the works of in over a dozen exhibitions that Escher, Da Vinci and many more. In include multiple works in the Arthur a breath I had found ‘brothers’.”[4] Ackermann Gallery, Chelsea Royal The words of Jonty Hurwitz outline Hospital and his place of work in the the inspiration for his work as well as finance industry, Tower 42 London. forming an understanding as to why Hospital and his place of work in the he chose to focus on anamorphosis finance industry, Tower 42 London. 5 “As you move around the piece, you are presented with different images of a father figure” This Anamorphic deeper into the relationship between towards the place where the heart perspective piece by the subject of the art and the artist. is. Each piece of the jigsaw has been THurwitz is called ‘behind The anamorphic sculpture consists compositionally placed within the me,’ it explores the relationship of 26 layers of perspex, all of which perspex so that when viewed as a between Hurwitz and his father. contain a single piece of the copper whole the figure is placed directly Via his website, Hurwitz describes mesh perspective jigsaw. Through in the middle of the collection of how ‘Using a high-resolution scan the use of copper mesh, Hurwitz Perspex; no doubt Hurwitz’s degree of his naked body I cut templates has created a bronze glistening effect in engineering will have contributed of copper mesh. The mesh cuts to the layered figure, this creates to the math and precision that are layered in perspex.’[5] I have highlights in certain points of the will have been needed to perfectly chosen to revise this piece of art as design, further adding to the three- execute the composition of each piece I think the use of materials modified dimensional appearance that is of mesh. 2008 being the beginning through laser cutting has created trying to be generated. The pieces of of the project meant that Hurwitz a captivating piece of anamorphic copper mesh are cut to recreate the worked on this piece for 5 years, perspective art. Hurwitz captures contours of Hurwitz’s father’s body. completed in 2013. The vibrancy and the viewers’ attention through the The layers begin to capture the glow of the copper creates an old but particular inspiration of his father; most protrusive parts of his body, precious feeling to the piece, as an this creates a personal pathway such as his stomach and left side of undervalued precious metal. The use from the viewer to Hurwitz via his his chest, this enhances the realism of copper may be a representation art, therefore enticing them to think of the figure and may perhaps nod of the relationship of Hurwitz 6 7 “I have always been torn between art and physics.” 8 “I have always been torn between art and physics.” and his father being precious but the most supportive parent is not undervalued by the artist. The there and one learns to be alone.’[6] negative space between each layer of copper mesh is what makes this sculpture a piece of anamorphic; the viewer will only find certain ways to view the art effectively. The development of laser cutting has certainly helped Hurwitz to produce a clean-cut piece of art made out of copper. Hurwitz won Bernard Nobel Sculpture Prize for this piece and when interviewed explained the function of the art and its meaning. ‘‘Behind Me’ represents the way a child perceives parental support. As you move around the piece, you are presented with different images of a father figure, from present and solid on occasions to ephemeral and absent altogether on others, reflecting those times when even 9 10 This image is an example of a more traditional piece of anamorphic perspective Tart by Hurwitz; I have chosen to study it for that very reason. Hurwitz has used many techniques of anamorphosis while creating his wide range of art but it is the most traditional techniques that result to be most effective. As well as using one of the very first anamorphic techniques, Hurwitz has taken catoptric anamorphosis and adapted it to blend with his use of more physical materials such as acrylic, perspex and three-dimensional printing. The use of a cuboid mirror stretches the image that it is reflecting; therefore typically shaped objects would appear disfigured and stretched. Whereas artists would normally create exquisite drawings, that appeared stretched on paper and normal through the reflection, Hurwitz has created sculptures that appear stretched when viewed on their own and normal through the reflection. I chose this piece of catoptric perspective art out of his many, as it was immediately the most thought provoking to me. It made me question what it could represent and when reading what Hurwitz had said beside it; it made me think even deeper about it and how it could represent what he intended. The Title of this piece of work is ‘Yoda and the Anamorphic’; a strange but thought evoking title; one of which 11 12 represents enlightenment. Posted with the picture on his website Hurwitz says “Satori is a Japanese Buddhist term for “Enlightenment”. Buddhist teachings explain that the greatest our perceptions of reality are built on the foundation of ego. In “ essence, the greatest obstacle to enlightenment is the self. The self is obstacle to a worldly illusion created by desires and needs.”[7] This explanation of enlightenment combined with this piece of anamorphosis could enlightenment lead to many interpretations of the meaning of the work.

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