LOCATION in the Virtual Sculpture Park (DAAP)
BIOGRAPHIE et COMMENTAIRES DE L'ARTISTE
Biographie / Biography
Time flies. It is almost 10 years ago that I obtained my ‘Master of Science in Industrial Design engineering’ at the University of Technology in Delft, the Netherlands. I have been studying architecture as well. After graduating I worked as designer for a couple of design agencies in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The product range I worked on was quite broad; varying from a foldable camper, steel door frames to a 150 meter long glass showcase in a subway station.
At the beginning of 2000 I moved to Winston-Salem, NC, USA to become Director of Product Development for Goelst USA. Goelst is a manufacturer of modular case goods; a furniture system for hospitals, universities and the government. All items in the product line are ‘captured’ in a database and represented by an Acad symbol. When designers create a lay out by dragging & dropping items from the library the bill of materials and the CNC code (for production) is generated on the fly. This way a huge number of items (75.000!) can be handled very efficiently. The product itself was still a laminated box. By introducing new techniques like membrane pressing, powder coated MDF and stainless steel cabinetry I changed the look (and feel) of the product (without digressing from ‘the system’). An interesting commercial success is the mail-sorting desk I designed for the IRS (US tax service) that is currently in use across the country.
2004 was a sabbatical year that I spend renovating an old house in the Netherlands. The family moved back, now with 2 kids, to be closer to family & friends (& Gouda cheese…etc.).
In 2005 I started as independent designer focusing on chairs. From a business perspective it is hard to justify the ambition to add another chair to the hundred billion chairs out there. However, as a designer I, somehow, consider chair design a test of competence. With Artifort (NL) I am building 1:1 models and I have an interesting dialogue with Davis Furniture & Brayton (both US). It would be very nice to maintain contact with the US.
Just like athletics are ‘the mother of all sports’, sculpture is the source of all design. Over the years I tried different materials; stone, steel, concrete. At the end of the day even chairs, bicycles and audio amplifiers can be sculptural pieces. A few of those you can find on the website www.speyers.com I do have to mention that I did not update the website for more then 4 years; a one man band cannot play all those instruments.
Description
Commentaire / Statement
1. What’s underneath (infinite small = infinite big)
Like all interesting sculpture Dandelion is open for different interpretations. It could be a representation of a subatomic particle within a shell of electrons or it could be star dust spinning a dark planet. It could be biological, it could be artificial. It might look chaotic but there is a logical structure underneath. A frightening impact or a peaceful dance of light. Whatever it is, it is in the eye of the beholder.
2. Practically speaking
It is a high gloss, dark sphere capturing a light (source). The light is transmitted to the outside through acrylic pieces. Every piece splits, creating three light dots. All those pieces together create a shell of intangible light (dots). This pattern of light is reflected in the high gloss core, adding depth.
All 60 acrylic pieces are the same. Light will not ‘leak’ if the surface is smooth. All edges are rounded and the overall shape is tapered. The arms are upward like the flow of light. To make the light visible the top surfaces (dots) are rougher then the side surfaces. Those pieces are cast pieces.
3. Practically speaking part 2
I focused on the poetry of the sculpture, the idea and the structure; constructing the 3D computer model. If ‘Dandelion’ turns out to be the lucky winner of the RPW prize I can improve the detailing of the part in order to simplify materialization.
For example;
The sphere needs a parting line in order to get a light source in. As it is now the sphere is a surface, the material thickness is just a practical issue to be advised by Materialise (it does not change the overall appearance of the sculpture). The transparent plastic pieces should be attached easily (‘click’/ snap). Unfortunately Dandelion can not float in the air so some kind of base is needed (see jpg image). It can hang as well. I figured out those details but did not want to make the model overly complicated. If ‘Dandelion’ takes it that far I would like to discuss the options with Materialise.
4. Thanks
Apart from the competition and cherishing the hope Dandelion wins, I really enjoyed participating. I like the process and I am happy with the end result. Without the digital sculpture competition I would not have pursued this idea that I kept in my head for years. It started with looking carefully at the flower; Dandelion.
Thanks.
Kindest regards,
Wout Speyers