I will be running a Maya workshop for Jinbok Wie’s studios at Kookmin and Kyonggi University this coming week.

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WORKSHOP: COMPUTATIONAL DYNAMICS – ‘BONE’
Tutors: 김지호 (http://www.ynotwhy.com, http://crtl-i.com) + 위진복 (http://wieandpartners.com)
The workshop will be dedicated to constituting the artificial process of transformation of material information. This process will target comprehension of how extensities are formed into intensities. The STUDIO will deal with form as field which is full of dynamic strengths, rather than reductive physics. The STUDIO will work with the materiality of matter implying the changes of modes and the shifts of energy, rather than materials in modern manner. The introduction of dynamic modelling tools from Maya will give the STUDIO the learning of the capabilities of the program, coupled with the understanding of the relevant parameters of the subject studied: nCloth, IK, particle-dynamics, soft bodies, expressions, and etc. If relevant, some other parametric synchronization tools like grasshopper and scripts will be possibly introduced.

‘Bone’ will be dealt with in two scales of material system and two levels information exchange that enriches the subject, ENGINEERING VERTICALITY. TWO SCALES: 1. The microscopic level of the internality and the individuality 2. The macroscopic level of bone as collectivity TWO LEVELS: 1. The relation to other system of the body 2. The relation to external forces.

I have been asked to teach a course at the Korean National University of Arts. The course is set up to explore the complex relationship between the material and the immaterial elements of design through a few experiments. This would be my first full-semester teaching experience apart from teaching as an assistant or running shorter workshops. I’d like to thank Jieun Lee and Jinbok Wie (http://wieandpartners.com) for this opportunity.

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Course Description:

This course aims to explore the complex relationship between the physical and the metaphysical territories of design. The act of creation is often complete when conceptualization and materialization both take place. We will situate ourselves in 5 sets of experiments that are conceptually connected, but physically separated. The very nature of these experiments will actively seek to develop a new sense that will perhaps enable us to see the invisible, to touch the intangible, and/or to materialize the immaterial.

Just a few more weeks.

This is a recently finished competition in Yongsan, Korea. The project was shortlisted: http://www.yongsanpark.org

These are some polaroid shots by an artist friend from New York. He’s been living in Korea for a little more than a year now. Enjoy what a New Yorker sees in Korea.

All photos by Duke Donohue.

It’s been interesting to see how Korean students are almost always forced to memorize infinite amount of information as part of their education. If one fails to do so, unwanted consequences ranging from lower test scores to physical punishments follow. In efforts to compete and be successful in this system, the students often choose a path that maximizes their ability to memorize facts: learning through repetition. From this a type of art emerge, the process of learning is expressed through blank pieces of paper, ink, and time. The students refer to this as Ggamji meaning black paper.
 

It’s interesting to find that Koreans from few hundred years ago also had very similar ways of learning. These are scans of old books that you can easily buy all over Korea. These are traces of students from the past copying their textbooks over and over to memorize the contents. It’s a funny feeling buying thousands of hours of one’s effort to learn with just a few bucks.

The west shoreline of Korea got some amazing tidelands. Miles and miles of mud. These pictures are from Gwanghwa Island, truly an awesome place.

Pictures by Yang Min Jong

I’m always impressed by the way traditional architects build. Hahoe is one of these preserved areas where people still live in the old Korean spaces. Although I’m a huge fan of the digital technology for all its advantages, precise calculations or heavy-duty machines are obviously not the most important elements in creating masterful designs. I feel as if I have become a little too computer driven. I love the fact that all the houses, the streets, and the natural gardens at Hahoe are so beautifully scaled for small daily activities. There is no overwhelming sense of sublime architecture. The wooden structures, stone walls, and paper windows are all very human in size, proportion, and arrangements. It’s amazing how everything manages to humbly blend into the natural surroundings.

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This is the recent competition that we finished recenlty. Unfortunately, most of the bigger Korean companies ended up winning the competition. These are the pages that we submitted.

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MAGOK PROCESS (Albu, Kim, Rui, Yam, Yin)