My final work is a piece of rendering image. I tried to reproduce the reference photo as accurate as possible without being too focused on details.
If this work is going to be ranked among the different phrases of simulation, I’d say it belongs to the second phrase. I know it is impossible make a perfect replica, I tried to make it photo-like instead of drawing-like. During the making process, I’m hiding the fakeness of collaging and making images combine together naturally. It takes a lot more work than I thought to make an aesthetic and realistic rendering.
My reference image is a photo token by Lawrence’s Office of Communication. I had the idea of replicating it after I saw it since I really like its color and composition, and why not try something familiar first.
The first step I did was to trace the photo and make solid squares and lines according to the photo. Since I had no previous experience of making such image, during the second step, I found out it was totally unnecessary to do so.
At the beginning of the class, I wrote in my proposal that I’m going to make a 3D model. Well, I changed my mind. I knew I wanted to a make simulation of architecture but I wasn’t clear how am I suppose to achieve it. I went from making a 3D model to rendering a 3D model and changed to 2D rendering. It was not until I started to try these on my own, did I realize how hard it is to make these with little experience.
But like I mentioned before, these blocks are nearly useless. I know something is wrong, but I don’t know why.
Then, I realized in order to make it feel real, it is necessary to accompany these computer generated blocks with real texture, trees and other ambient elements.
I know no matter how hard I try, it is impossible to make a perfect replica. I wanted it to be different and has its own vibe. Luckily, I think I have achieve it on some level. This could be a decent response to Baudrillard’s simulation theory. Although the simulation of the photo is not perfect, and I don’t want perfect simulation, I’ve learned a lot from the exploration.
zx.lyu 