'Impressions from Virtual Landscapes'
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Cover Page RMIT University Melbourne Faculty of Art Design and Communication School of Art and Culture, Fine Art Exegesis Project Title: ‘Impressions from Virtual Landscapes’ Name of Candidate: Neil G McMasters Year of Completion: 2003 © Neil G McMasters 2003 Doctor of Fine Art ‘Impressions from Virtual Landscapes’ Exegesis ©Neil G McMasters Page 1 2003 Project Title: ‘Impressions from virtual landscapes’ Brief Description: The aim of this project is to build and render digital landscape models that reflect natural element characteristics and use the resulting data sets as source material for fine art investigation and production. The project will utilise 3D computer modelling techniques, selected output technology and studio facilities. Computer-generated virtual landscapes material will be incorporated into studio practice by providing observed environmental content for the development of works for exhibition. An accompanying exegesis will explore the relationship and tensions between digital landscape data sets and the broader use of landscape as a motif within an Australian context. Doctor of Fine Art ‘Impressions from Virtual Landscapes’ Exegesis ©Neil G McMasters Page 2 2003 Table of Contents COVER PAGE...........................................................................................................................................1 ‘IMPRESSIONS FROM VIRTUAL LANDSCAPES’ ...............................................................................1 Brief Description: .............................................................................................................................2 TABLE OF CONTENTS ..............................................................................................................................3 PROJECT PROPOSAL ..............................................................................................................................5 Objectives............................................................................................................................................................... 6 Research Questions................................................................................................................................................ 6 Rationale................................................................................................................................................................. 7 Proposal Methods:................................................................................................................................................ 10 Research ............................................................................................................................................................... 10 1. Pre-production ........................................................................................................................................... 10 2. Studio Practice........................................................................................................................................... 10 Research Schedule ............................................................................................................................................... 11 Summary of Exegesis......................................................................................................................13 Project methods summary and key activity links................................................................................................ 16 I. EXEGESIS PART ONE: INVESTIGATION...................................................................................17 1 • Initial literature search................................................................................................................................... 17 1.1 Literature review: Computer Generated Activity.................................................................................. 17 1.2 Literature review: Early Computer Art Legacies................................................................................... 20 1.3 Literature review: Virtual Space and Related Issues ............................................................................ 23 1.4 Literature review : Still Life Legacies................................................................................................... 26 1.5 Literature review: Landscape................................................................................................................. 27 2 • Ideas and concept development - Landscape Art.......................................................................................... 28 2.1 Personal Observations............................................................................................................................ 28 2.2 Spatial Issues .......................................................................................................................................... 29 2.3 Vision and Input ..................................................................................................................................... 30 3 • Defining the topic- Landscape Genre ............................................................................................................ 32 3.1 Past Impressions..................................................................................................................................... 32 3.2 Placing the Works in Context ................................................................................................................ 33 3.3 Working with Australian Landscape Characteristics............................................................................ 34 3.4 Exploring Mood Atmosphere and Place................................................................................................ 36 3.5 An Australian Landscape Perspective ................................................................................................... 40 4. • Evolving an Appropriate Studio Methodology ............................................................................................ 43 4.1 Digital Compositions.............................................................................................................................. 43 4.2 Transfer Issues........................................................................................................................................ 43 5 • The Proposal: Criterion .................................................................................................................................. 44 5.1 Context Issues......................................................................................................................................... 44 5.2 Subject Matter......................................................................................................................................... 44 5.3 Virtual Landscapes and Australian Legacies ........................................................................................ 45 5.4 Material Choice ...................................................................................................................................... 45 II. EXEGESIS PART TWO: PROJECT DEVELOPMENT ...............................................................47 1 • Data Collection and Related Influences: Methodology ................................................................................ 47 1.1 Development: Field Trips and their Purpose.......................................................................................... 47 1.2 Development: Field Trips and their Influences...................................................................................... 48 1.3 Development: Key Galleries and Collections Researched - 2000 to 2003 . ........................................ 51 1.4 Development: Opera Sets and Staging .................................................................................................. 52 2 • Investigation of Related Practice ................................................................................................................... 53 2.1 Development: Serial Art.......................................................................................................................... 53 3 • Related Conceptual Development.................................................................................................................. 54 3.1 Development: Melding Australian Influences....................................................................................... 54 3.2 Development: Technical and Subjective Transactions ......................................................................... 55 4 • Exploring the Process –Virtual to Actual - Studio Practice Observations................................................... 55 4.1 Development: New skills ........................................................................................................................ 55 4.2 Development: Studio Processes.............................................................................................................. 56 Doctor of Fine Art ‘Impressions from Virtual Landscapes’ Exegesis ©Neil G McMasters Page 3 2003 4.3 Development: Which Software and Why.............................................................................................. 57 4.4 Development: Evolving Digital Images ............................................................................................... 58 4.5 Development: Understanding