ASCENT:  the evolution of analog man to digital man.

Ascent explores the evolution from today’s analog man to tomorrow’s digital man. As today’s environment of digital interrelationships evolves from history’s analog world man continues to change and adapt.

The relentless process of evolution from simple amoebas to complex human beings continues onward. We know that man’s forbears were apes, and before that other less likely creatures. Man continues to evolve, transforming into unknown future creatures more able to thrive in today’s digital world.

In my Ascent project, I utilize historic analog photographic processes and cutting edge digital modeling technologies to create 3 dimensional digital sculptures from 2 dimensional analog photograms. The technologies evolve similarly to the evolution of man.

The human hand is captured as a series of thirty six 2D photograms created at 10 degree intervals as the hand is rotated. Those photogram shadows of the hand are digitized and then converted into a 3D digital model. That digital model is output using 3D printing. The resulting resin sculpture of a hand is one evolutionary step away from the original hand to a digital hand.

This rapid prototype sculpture of the evolved hand is then used to create 36 more analog 2D photograms, whic.h are scanned, then synthesized into a new digital 3D printed model. The new sculpture has progressed one more step on the evolutionary path to digital man. Ascent includes 20 steps of evolution to show the transformation from an organic hand to the future digital creature.

The project includes 21 sculptures ranging from 13.5″ for the bronze analog man’s hand down to 8.5″ tall representing the evolutionary steps from the original analog man to create the hand of Digital Man. Each plastic rapid prototype sculpture is mounted on a base of 3D printed black PLA resin with integrated lighting. There is also the original analog man hand sculpture which is a bronze casting.

The sculptures are to be arranged on a platform about 1 foot above the floor of the gallery in an area of about 6 feet in diameter with the analog hand in the center and a spiral of the evolved resin sculptures extending around it.

A selection of the 14″x11″ photograms individually and combined into one print:

 

Ascent Project Artist Statement (pdf)

 For exhibition, acquisition, or publishing information please contact the artist.

A selection of Ascent related 3D printed sculptures are available on the website.

2007-Ongoing

Installation includes 20 3D printed PLA Resin Sculptures approx. 13.5″ to 8.5″ tall, 1 Bronze sculpture approx. 16″ tall, 180 silver gelatin photogram prints 14″x11″ – prints are edition 1 of 1