Brief: 140 years from now, new oceanic communities have formed underwater. ‘The Museum of Antediluvial Artifacts’ is an essential part of this community and houses artifacts from previous generations. Your group should develop fully textured 3D models of a given artifact, its display unit, the exhibition space and the security entrance system through which the museum patrons will enter the space. How would you imagine digital technology to look in this future world?
It is the year 2146, surviving colonies of what was the American East have migrated to one of the last remaining civilisations, the Eastern Seaboard, in the hopes of starting a new life. Almost all remnants of the past have been washed away into the Atlantic Ocean or destroyed beyond recognition. The ruling powers of the Eastern Seaboard have taken advantage of this and govern society as a totalitarian theocracy. Only high-ranking officials and visitors from other oceanic nations are allowed to visit the Museum of Antediluvian Artefacts. We wanted the exhibition space to embrace the traditional art deco style that was prominent in New York in the 1920s. Art deco motifs - lavish golden furnishing, red velvet fabrics, marble and masonry - represent luxury and exuberance. We believed this would perfectly represent the totalitarian inequality that exists within this society.
The traditional decorative elements are juxtaposed with the modern and futuristic elements of the display unit and security system to pay homage to early culture, but also convey the technological evolution that has taken place. Symmetry and repetition are important factors in the art deco style, and I believe it’s what gives the space such a pleasing aesthetic. The lighting is soft and warm, which creates an inviting atmosphere.
We were given the task to model an iron in our 3D software as it would appear 140 years from now. We were also asked to consider how those in the future would interpret the artifact; and within the context of New York City, we decided it would be amusing to imagine it as a 'pizza slice heater'.
