moodscanner

January 14, 2014

Coming soon - Once upon a time in space ...

Hi there.

A sneak preview to my next post ... ;-)

January 11, 2014

The Steampunk Universe - Part Four / Prometheus vs Jules Verne

Title Poster from "20000 Leagues Under the Sea" (1954)

This is gonna be a special post about the Steampunk style.

One of the fascinating things are these crossover elements in movies, design or, for example, music. The same mood, the same notions which are transferred into different media, expressing the same idea.

Steampunk can also be quiet a transparent thing.

In 2012, there were two movies which I was most anxious to see: "The Dark Knight Rises" and "Prometheus".

Ridley Scott's visionary and iconic "Alien" is one of my absolute favorite and essential examples of sci-fi production design (I'll write about it in a further post, as I once announced). "Prometheus" marks the great return of this knighted british filmmaker to his roots and a revival of the "Alien" saga. A mixture of prequel, reboot and extension of it. See it as whatever you want, I rather consider the movie as a more sophisticated prequel. Anyway, it's also a most welcome rejection of the terrible, poorly received "Alien vs Predator" series.

The Production Design of "Prometheus" is almost perfectly done. Almost, because its design is built on its predecessor "Alien" and basically upgrades it on a state-of-the-art (digital) level, without loosing its unique look. They also added a lot of new details and gadgets, and every single detail, regarding the visuals, the sound and make-up design, is really, really well done. But after all, there's nothing about it which we didn't see yet so far in another sci-fi movie or concept art. There are a lot of elements and visuals that stunned me when watching "Prometheus" (in 3D). I could write a lot about the creatures, the cinematography, the lightning, the characters. But one aspect that occurred to me in particular was the resemblance of the protagonists' space suits to some old diving suits design, as seen on illustrations of Jules Verne's underwater stories.

I've always been very fascinated by any Retro-futuristic Design. And if I discover any slight elements of it in a movie's production design or another media, I'm immediately captured by it and feel the urge to make connections to other experiences with that kind of design. This wonderful subcultural variation of retro design is very present in Jules Verne's visions too, of course.

Still from "Prometheus" (2012)

The suits

Beside all the high-tech materials and gadgets the Prometheus crew members' suits are equipped with, their general look reminds me a lot of old fashioned diving suits. Sure, you could relate almost every sci-fi based design to some historical, maybe primitive (earthly) technical equipment which must have inspired modern designers and filmmakers.

I even guess that Ridley Scott's team had a look at the typical alien space suits in the 50s or, the illustrations and movie of Jules Verne's "20'000 leagues under the sea" (1954). But especially the Prometheus suits remind me strongly on these old diving (and exploring) suits.

Still from "Prometheus" (2012)

The exploring

The basic situation - a group of people (mostly scientists) walking on unknown grounds and exploring new territories or creatures, is common in so many sci-fi and fantasy stories. From Star Trek's "Away-Teams" to Jules Verne's diving squads and now the crew of the Prometheus.

Ridley Scotts sends his protagonists back to the roots of Science-Fiction and lets them discover and struggle on an unknown planet, facing the greatest mysteries of mankind's origins. The moments before the crew leaves the ship and puts on the helmets, or communicates with each other during the trip, are filled with this specific mood which is typical for the beginning of an adventure.

Still from "Prometheus" (2012)

Ancient equipment and ghosts of the depth

I truly love the combination of old fashioned hardware technology and the concept of a science-fiction mission - in outer space, underwater or wherever it takes place.
Other examples of movies which are (in my opinion) somehow connected to this notion are "Stargate" (1994) or "Sphere" (1997). Being in the desert and exploring ancient pyramids and fighting against highly sophisticated "gods" or diving deeper and deeper into the sea, until you discover an alien legacy. For some reason I've always been fascinated by diving suits. Some passionate divers I know personally, always tell me about the fascinating aspect of being isolated and in a state of loneliness, when you're underwater on your own. You not only have to consider a lot of technical procedure, it's also absolutely necessary to know how to breath and react in certain situations when you're down there.
Moving in a non-CO2 based alien atmosphere and being on a scientific mission can be quiet the same actually.

Diving suit by the Carmagnolle brothers (1882) - the first anthropomorphic design

Diving suit by Chester E. McDuffee (1911)

Diving suit concept by Karl Heinrich Klingert (1797)

Space suit design from the movie "Sunshine" (2007)

September 09, 2013

Spatial Interventions - Penique Productions

Penique Productions - Palazzo Ducale, Italy - Sept 2011

What is imagination ?
An invisible connection between reality and our restless, working mind or maybe some kind of a bubble ?

No doubt, it's both at the same time. Creating new "spaces" out of those which already exist. Building new ones, that are different than the others, spaces which are set within new borders.
During my years of study at the school of arts in Zurich, I loved working on miniature models and creating unique surfaces and haptic environments within them. I took a lot of pictures of these small scaled spaces and their lighting. Looking at these photographs today, I recognize some basic similarities to the works of the artistic collective I want to present you this time.

Some time ago, I discovered the remarkable works of Penique Productions. A group of young artists of different disciplines, focusing on ephemeral installations, located on various different spots like cathedrals, apartments, public areas or at the Paris fashion week 2012.

The basic concept is quiet simple and so brilliant at the same time: An inflatable balloon creates a new space within specifically chosen locations. Being inside this freshly born "rooms", a new vision of the surfaces and shapes of the given structures becomes visible to the viewer. These new environments can be used again, telling completely different stories and evoking different feelings or impressions.

Penique Productions - Palazzo Ducale, Italy - Sept 2011

Penique Productions - El Sotano de la Tabacalera, Madrid - Jan 2011


Penique Productions - El Claustro Querétaro, México - November 2011

Penique Productions - El Claustro Querétaro, México - November 2011

Penique Productions - Bathroom - Nottingham, UK - January 2009

Penique Productions - The Green Sack - Nottingham, UK - November 2008

Penique Productions - enNova, SaoPaolo - April/May 2012

Penique Productions - La Capella, Piera/Spain - August 2009

Penique Productions - Paris Fashion Week 2012

Copyrights of all the images are @Penique Productions

http://www.peniqueproductions.com/

August 20, 2013

The Steampunk Universe - Part Three / Games and Beyond

Still from Bioshock Infinite (2013)

I always liked video games. And at the same time, I'm not an expert at all. I don't even know a lot of them and I don't play that often.
I remember when I was 9 or 10, standing in front game arcades back in the 80ies or early 90ies, being absorbed by those simple but entertaining game graphics. Somehow i already realized that they were quiet primitive, but I liked them. I grew older and the world of games grew extensively as well. The digital revolution rose up, the two tech-giants Apple and Microsoft became more and more powerful, and I always kept my interest in video games. My girlfriend brought them closer to me again, when we bought our XBox set, and soon after that, "Child of Eden" and "Assassin's Creed" landed beneath our tv screen. I love both of them. And I rediscovered an old love. Worlds where you can move within easily and spot fantastic creations at every corner.

But actually I don't want to write about a gamer's passion at all. It's the spatial design and utopian environments, created by phenomenal designers like Daniel Dociu (as you know, one of my greatest idols and subject of several Moodscanner posts)

http://moodscanner.blogspot.ch/2012/05/concept-digital-art-daniel-dociu.html

As I said, I'm not a real avid video game fan. But by incidence, I spotted the front cover of the upcoming "The Bureau". At the same time, I was doing some research for my Steampunk posts here. And there was it: Bang! My curiosity about the Steampunk / Games connection was aroused and soon after that, I got completely blown away by stills over stills from the world of "Bioshock".

Still from Bioshock (2013)

Surely, the various creature design of the "Bioshock" (respectively "Bioshock Infinite") games is more present than the spatial background. But fortunately, if you look closer, it's the smart and highly innovative unity of both aspects which defines the world of this fantastic universe. And it shapes the vision of a Steampunk-inspired atmosphere even more convincing.

Well, maybe it's even better that I don't know anything about the story or the characters of Bioshock-universe (Ok, not yet). So I can keep my own interpretations of the images and moods that catched me right away.
What does Steampunk mean to me? Darkness, basically. A dark atmosphere of uncertain origins and mstery. Gigantic moving, living machines. Immensely noisy and silent at the same time. Threatening and dark. And there's this other kind of machine creatures and sculptures - more fragile, thin, less menacing. A robot, slightly steaming, with an old top hat, meeting me on a bright, sunny day in an elegant, victorian-stylish park. Rolling or walking over short trimmed grass. Steaming and working, in the dark or the light, but both mystic and unnatural.

So far, I already picked some examples of the darker part of Steampunk art in my previous posts..

http://moodscanner.blogspot.ch/2013/06/the-steampunk-universe-part-one.html

Regarding "Bioshock Infinite", I discovered some shots which I like especially: Daylighted, wide open views of utopian worlds and skies full of flying architecture. At the same time, people laying on the beach, next to colorful sunshades. It looks stunning, joyful and very original at the same time.

Still from Bioshock Infinite (2013) - Beaches and flying buildings

Still from Bioshock Infinite (2013) - Floating buildings and ships

Still from Bioshock Infinite (2013) - Airy constructions and retro-tech officers

Loneliness, abandoned dark street corners, the mystery of uncertain, undefined places - these elements can also be the corner stones of Steampunk scenes. Including their possible inhabitants: mutants, rogue characters or animal-like creatures who also have mechanical body parts and human expressions. Being aware of the existence of all these things and knowing that they could have already existed in the past, is the reason for the fascination for Steampunk. At least for me, it is.

Still from Bioshock (2007)

Still from Bioshock Infinite (2013) - Bizarre and fascinating

Steampunk is mostly referred to the period of the 19th century or Victorian-Style era. Seemingly sophisticated, modern technology, combined with steam-driven devices, set in the past.

I think other periods from the 20th century can also be used as a background for this amazing art, for example the 1960ies. And if an alien invasion would take place at the same time, and secret agents would try to fight them ?

Title banner from The Bureau: XCOM Declassified (2013)

Still from The Bureau: XCOM Declassified (2013)

If you browse through the internet, you can discover thousands of very well made Steampunk-inspired illustrations or sculptures. I found so many of them, but, concluding this part of the game section, there's one which hit quiet hard. A beautiful still from the "Dishonored: The knife of Dunwall". It contains a lot of the elements and hidden (or barely sensable) moods which I love so much about Steampunk. I can see myself standing on a high platform of warm, mighty machines, working and working. Hammering under the setting sun, created by people who may be human or mechanical as well. It's some kind of an anti-paradise, whithout being hell, another dimension or timeline.

Still from "Dishonored: The knife of Dunwall"

I hope you will also read my next post about amazing Steampunk.
Thanks a lot anyway for joining me here.

To be continued ...

All copyright for the stills I used:

@Irrational Games
http://irrationalgames.com/tag/bioshock-infinite/
@2kMarin
http://www.2kmarin.com/
@Arkane Studios
http://www.arkane-studios.com/uk/index.php

August 10, 2013

The Steampunk Universe - Part Two / Sculptural

Pierre Matter - "Hommage à Barcelone" (2010)

I'm a Steampunk lover. I have to admit. Why? I guess it's about the same notion which I described in previous posts. This notion is more like a kind of feeling. A dream. Imaging a world, which is set apart from any known human culture, or things invented by humans, empty and abstract. An endless space, ready to be filled with my own landscapes, objects and artificial life. The absolute space of creativity.

It may sound quiet strange, but if there would be any objects in this space at all, left or created in there by somebody or whatever, they could easily be Steampunk-like. A giant iron kraken, emerging from the water, or a robot, wearing a big hat, glasses and a dress coat from the 19th century with mechanical joints, whatever this Steampunk visions might be, I'd love to build them and welcome them in my personal realm of imagination. You too?

Museums. Basically, I always liked them. I still like the presence of old objects or stuffed animals, the smell of past times. It literally haunts me, just as I love the old, classic horror movies, set in an english, victorian country residence. It's the patina of things that fascinates me, and the 19th century has its very own charm. Combined with my passion for robots and monsters of nearly every kind, these preferences seem to be the perfect conditions for a true Steampunk lover.

I still think about Tik Tok. Dorothy's metallic (but living) companion in "Return to Oz" (1985), who can think, speak and fight despite his clumsy and rather slow moving stature. (Believe it or not - Ironically, I even started to like mustaches a bit more, just because of this purely artificial movie character, although I never did before.) When Dorothy discovers him in a hidden corner of a dead city, Tik Tok has been "sleeping", covered with dust for an unknown period of time. She first has to wind him up like a clockwork. I also very like this clockwork-like nature of him. An artificial soldier, skilled and loyal, but always dependent on someone who "resets" him. Of course it's a very simple analogy, nevertheless very effective in my opinion. Tik Tok often appears like a statue or metallic sculpture, resurrected by Dorothy. The sculptural variation of Steampunk culture is very, very popular. Specifically objects, weapons and installments, made by people who adore Steampunk and the playful possibilities of it, are wide spread on the internet and in exhibitions. Personally, I prefer the images and movies, referred to the Steampunk universe, but the sculptural aspect is undeniable and essential too.

I'm gonna show you some examples of Steampunk objects, some of them already quiet famous, not only among the Steampunk lovers:

Pierre Matter - "Diane le buste" (2008)

Bob Basset - "Steampunk Gas Mask No.9" (2008)

Eric Freitas - "Mechanical No.5" (2008)

Greg Broadmore / Doctor Grordbort - "Righteous Bison" (2010)

Stéphane Halleux - "My little robot" (2010)

Greg Brotherton - "The Calculator" (2011)

Greg Brotherton - "Pushed around" (2009)

I studied Scenographical Design, which is actually a special branch of the Industrial Design section. That may be the reason why I'm basically more interested in the spatial aspect of Steampunk - landscapes (which will be the next part of this post series) and sculptural creations within Steampunk spaces. The objects which I showed you above are fascinating as well, like parts of this gigantic Steampunk universe. It's the space (including all the details objects, drawn or handmade) of Steampunk that interests me so much.

As I said, for my next Steampunk chapter, we will enter the bigger scaled dimensions of this complex, 19th century-future tech-based fantasy: Spaces, rooms, entire worlds of Steampunk, including gamers' territories ...

See you there !

All copyright for the images:

Greg Brotherton (http://www.brotron.com/)

Eric Freitas (http://ericfreitas.com/blog/)

Greg Broadmore / Doctor Grordbort (drgrordborts.com)

Stéphane Halleux (http://www.stephanehalleux.com/)

Pierre Matter (http://pierrematter.com/)

Bob Basset (http://bobbasset.com/)

June 20, 2013

The Steampunk Universe - Part One / Introduction

Still from "Sucker Punch" (2011, Directed by Zack Snyder): The imagination of a (Steampunk-like) WWI soldier

I remember the first time when I saw "Return to Oz" (1985), the sequel to the legendary original film, and my favorite character in it was definitely "Tik Tok". This bold, mechanical soldier who helped Dorothy to find her friends again. Speaking with this voice of steel, moving stiffly and vivid at the same time. Since then, I was eager to find a Tic Toc miniature figure or any more information about him. I wasn't aware back then that this metallic being could be easily taken as a part of the Steampunk culture, which started to evolve just a few years after the movie's release.

Some describe it as the "Art of Victorian Futurism". The creation of machines, cyborgs, objects or landscapes which seem to be built with the technology of the 19th century, but obviously far more sophisticated and advanced than they could have ever been back then. Truly utopian. There are many variations of Retro-Futurism. Steampunk is one of the most popular and versatile ones these days.

On my following posts, I want to show you my personal favorites, inspirations and famous examples of this highly interesting art. And I will also compare some details in selected movies to Steampunk-inspired objects which catched my eye in particular. Here are some impressions of Steampunk visions from different sections like landscapes, objects, clothing, graphic design, etc.

I'm gonna select some special examples which I'd personally describe as Steampunk or Steampunk-like art, which doesn't mean that they really are. You (or the person who created them) may also consider the works as a completely different kind of expression. Look for yourself ;-)