Week 2

For the second week I included research I did into the specific kind of species growing as part of Sky garden’s flora. I found out through their website they had a number of African and Mediterranean species that were quite colourful in comparison to what we saw in person and I compiled the plants I felt generated complimentary colour palettes to experiment with in studio.

screenshot taken from the guidelines in the presentation by Design LSM

digital painting of the red hot poker

paintings on the african lillies and french lavenders

birds of paradise

I made a few illustrations on the shapes of the flowers that I felt held the potential to create designs from which included the red hot poker and birds of paradise. The striking purple hues of the lilies and lavenders were also a part of the flora I felt stood out.

I found this one Artist, Kyung Washon whose work was related to colour and light on reflective surfaces like windows and primarily dealt with big bold shapes and geometric patterns that I found would be interesting merged with the floral research and inspired me to work on my idea that might help contribute to the main design in some way.

Kyung Washon

process of making the group collages

On Thursday and Friday I spent time developing my idea that was influenced by a moodboard of textures I made combining the elements from each image that inspired me. The collaborative exercise we had on making collages in groups using cut outs and paints the day before helped me identify the colours I felt worked well together along with the textures and patterns that felt needed more attention.

I was drawn to the webbed fabric texture that felt like it was taken from the bark of a tree and had this loose interconnected web of lines forming this translucent imagery that I found striking. In another image I included these muted shades of purple and yellow-green bark that held this organic touch and in another there were these delicate paper sculptures fanning out from within one another lit from beneath that gave this ethereal touch.

Celestial idea moodboard of light and textures

The designs went through many changes as I added and removed elements, experimenting with the outcome each time so it did not feel too busy and overwhelming for the viewer and instead appeared striking based on the line work of the geometric grid that was outlined from the shape of the ceiling in Sky garden that curved inwards.

The common theme in all the images within my mood board were strong textures and patterns that were either natural or earthen tones that held organic or contemporary shapes. I tied this in with a short written proposal of my idea named ‘Celestial’ as I was initially inspired by the picture I had taken on my visit with the Sky Garden reflected on the glass, floating above the clouds.

idea development 1

idea development 2

Proposal for ‘Celestial’ :

The iconic Sky Garden truly dominates the landscape with its curved silhouette and a way I would like to enhance the narrative of the ‘rewilding process’ is by embracing the urban jungle that we live in and the way this landscape interacts and allows for the growth of natural elements that add a playful softness to the harshness of the cityscape, when light drapes over the entire space creating a moment of stillness in an urban utopia.

idea development 3