Into the Future (2013)
29.7 x 42 cm
Inked and coloured in Photoshop
29.7 x 42 cm
Inked and coloured in Photoshop
Into the Future was a piece created for Nanyang Technological University's (NTU) Nanyang Chronicle's anniversary edition. Given the occassion, I wanted to create a piece that embodies both the past and future - both of which are essential to NTU's identity.
Spanning from 1955 to 2014, NTU consists of buildings built across more than half a century, each of them having distinct architectural character and style. Selecting key iconic buildings and landmarks familiar to students, faculty and visitors, I created an arrangement where historical buildings became the foundation by which more recent and even future buildings stood on, a way of portraying how NTU in its current form today would never have been possible without the foundations laid by its founding schools and buildings.
The buildings are interspersed with lush greenery, breaking the monolithic forms of concrete structures as well as giving the eye something to follow. Furthermore, NTU is located deep within a forested area, hence the greenery present across the artwork speaks of its close proximity and co-existence with nature.
Glass faces are also spaced across the artwork to provide cool colours as well as an avenue by which the sky and surrounding ovjects can be reflected. The cool colours complement the generally grey and warm colours of the other structures and creates another avenue for the eyes to follow, as well as creating a sense of structure by having reflections of other buildings visible - not just floating together. Reflections of the sky brings our attention upwards, encouraging the viewer to move on to the next building and the next milestone in NTU's history.
It all ends when we reach the top, where a clear blue sky greets us. Clear skies symbolise good prospects and endless possibilities - something students of NTU can look forward to upon graduation.
