Awaying from
2023
‘Awaying from’ is an experiment exploring the process of reproduction and rebirth through distancing from the original. Much like human memory, which can be easily manipulated and changed with the passage of time or shifts in perspective, the originality of digital data is not an absolute constant. Through this project, I aimed to investigate how digital information can be transformed and reproduced in various ways.
This project originates from the video capturing my footsteps, progressively distancing from my studio. Subsequently, the original video undergoes re-shooting, and new data is extracted through methods such as copying and re-printing. The listed data is visually presented to showcase the gradual departure from the original. The extracted data serves as the foundation for designing abstract patterns. Employing one pattern as a visual asset in the form of pixels, I ventured into creating diverse generative pattern designs.
This project originates from the video capturing my footsteps, progressively distancing from my studio. Subsequently, the original video undergoes re-shooting, and new data is extracted through methods such as copying and re-printing. The listed data is visually presented to showcase the gradual departure from the original. The extracted data serves as the foundation for designing abstract patterns. Employing one pattern as a visual asset in the form of pixels, I ventured into creating diverse generative pattern designs.
Experiment 1 : Segmentation Photography and Exposure Pattern Experiment
The first experiment is based on the zone system, a crucial aspect in my primary medium of photography.
< Zone system >
The zone system is a criterion based on exposure to assess the amount of information in a photographic image.
︎ Zone I: The darkest part of the photograph, emphasizing shadows and dark details.
︎ Zone V: The reference point for neutral gray, representing a neutral and balanced tonal area.
︎ Zone X: The brightest part of the photograph, highlighting highlights and bright details.
While walking around the studio, I captured the surrounding landscape by dividing it into sections based on my left and right foot. I initiated an experiment on 'Awaying from,' reconstructing one scene into multiple scenes.
Later, I applied arbitrary exposure steps based on the zone system and conducted experiments to generate various patterns.
< Experimental patterns >
Experiment 2 : Copying and Transformation
‘90 percent perfection from the original’
Based on the concept of '90 percent perfection from the original,' the second experiment focused on 'copying.' Photography inherently begins with a mechanical copy of reality. The experiment explored how the repetition of this copying process affects the original image.
While conducting up to 8 repetitions of the copying process, I observed how the images transformed. At each repetition, I noted how much the images moved away from the original and how they transformed.
After around 8 repetitions of copying, a notable phenomenon of mutation occurred in the original image.
While conducting up to 8 repetitions of the copying process, I observed how the images transformed. At each repetition, I noted how much the images moved away from the original and how they transformed.
After around 8 repetitions of copying, a notable phenomenon of mutation occurred in the original image.
Experiment 3 :
Reproduction through Re-shooting and Copying Repetitions
In the third experiment, the focus was on 'Reproduction' through the repetition of re-shooting and copying in video. While strolling from the studio to the nearby riverside, I captured the video 'Awaying from,' which documented my footsteps moving away from the studio.
Scenes from 'Awaying from' were selectively re-shot, and an experiment of copying those scenes was conducted. After repeating the copying process about 16 times, not only the form but also the colors of the images underwent variation. This resulted in images with abstract patterns entirely different from those captured in the original video shoot.
Scenes from 'Awaying from' were selectively re-shot, and an experiment of copying those scenes was conducted. After repeating the copying process about 16 times, not only the form but also the colors of the images underwent variation. This resulted in images with abstract patterns entirely different from those captured in the original video shoot.
Reproduction Process
Re-shot and Copies
16 Phases of Reproduction
Generated Patterns from Copies
Utilizing the abstract images obtained as the final output of the reproduction, various combinations of patterns were generated.
Visual Outcomes from generated patterns
