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Graphical Parallel Projection & Architectural Drawing

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You may have noticed that the vast majority of graphical projections in the last three posts were at least nominally realistic. They describe an object simply and clearly. They occasionally border on abstraction, but that is usually a side effect of graphical projection itself. There is, however, a vein of almost pure abstraction in modern architecture. It is almost as though elite architects were frustrated modernist painters. Or, that abstract expressionist painters had decided to have a contractor actually build their two-dimensional painted abstractions. In the early modern era there was not only a tendency to muddy perspective images, but also a move away from perspectives entirely. Projection drawings (isometric drawing, etc.), previously the domain of engineers, began to be used by architects for presentation. The tendency of these types of drawings to emulate abstract art was an added feature (if not the whole point of doing them). Most projection drawings of the 1920s were cl...
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Inspiration - Jean-Leon Gerome

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I once knew a brilliant architecture student who was working 24/7 on his thesis project.  His family took him to see a play, just to “take his mind off the project”.  On returning to the studio he said he didn’t remember much about the play, but that the design of the air handling system of the theater was so nifty that he was going to work it into his thesis project.  His family had failed - his mind had remained “on” the project.  Phryne before the Areopagus , 1861 A similar mindset often affects me when viewing paintings; I am attracted by the buildings and objects that frame the subject of the painting.  And, I am often disappointed by the crude misrepresentation of the context in an otherwise excellent painting.  In other words I ignore the nude and ogle the floor tile.  In that spirit, the following is the first of an ongoing series of posts highlighting the artists who have inspired me (with their tile work).  Pollice Verso , 1872 Jean-Leon...
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Banyan Trees & Human Brains

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Most people define themselves by their clothes, possessions, house, car, friends, career…   all the accumulated stuff that insulates the individual human from harsh reality.   Back in the 60’s someone said that people should be seen for who they really are.   But, strip a human of every surrounding defense, leave him or her standing naked and alone, and you have nothing – only a 20 something in good physical shape is impressive in their stark humanness. We are social & acquisitive, and it seems that without those physical accouterments we are a lesser species of ape. Or are we? The naked ape you see in the mirror every morning may be unimpressive, but the 3 pound human biocomputer hidden behind the sensory array on the top is.   The brain is certainly large and complex, but more importantly it embodies programming that reflects thousands of years of experience. I was in South Florida for the holidays, and sketched a Banyan tree trunk.   Banyan trees propag...
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