I would say that the main and obvious thing that’s different about making a 3D model as opposed to simply viewing a 3D model is the personal effort that comes into play when attempting to create. A model in an exhibition is more or less complete in the sense that it is formed, and as well as being considered worthy to view. Making one’s own 3D model requires individual input, in the form of thoughts and work, as well as an understanding of the process needed to create a model. In fact, once you have created a model, it may deepen your appreciation and understanding of a model that you may see in an exhibit.
Moving from passive observer to active modeler changed my thinking in the sense that I learned that I could participate in this process, and could be able to make my own models, and provide more things to view for other passive observers.
Engaging with objects in this way encourages me to look more closely at the objects I am working with. It helps me to appreciate the texture on the figure that we are photographing. It helps demonstrate “imperfections” that add a lot of character to the model we are making. Like most pieces of art, closer inspection can uncover new appreciation for a piece. For the model that we are photographing, the court figure with one bun, it has really helped me to appreciate how truely weathered and worn this figure is, not just because of its age, but also because of its time in the ground. The process that I am engaged in, photographing and modeling, prompts me to think about the people that made this figure, as well as the ones that purchased and made use of this figure. I feel that through created this 3D model, we are recreating this figure for a wider audience to see, which hopely does service to the people who made it in the first place.
I think you make a lot of interesting points here in terms of what can be gained specifically from the process of just making the 3D model. I thought a lot about the benefits of just having a 3D model, such as being able to see things you might not otherwise see at a museum. However, I really appreciate the points you made about how creating the model forces you to look at things like imperfections that you might not have otherwise cared to look at.
I really like what you say in this post! What especially resonated with me is what you said about the modeling process giving you more appreciation for the imperfections in a piece. I agree with what you said that the weathering of your piece is not a bad thing, it is simply a reminder of its history and time in the ground. I personally always get fascinated by looking at old things and thinking about how much time they have lasted, so your point about age resonated with me.
I really like your point that the process of creating the 3D model helps us to deepen our appreciation and understanding of the object. From my experience, taking pictures from different angles allowed me to discover something new about the physical structure and texture of the object that I ignored when I saw it in the exhibition.
The process of creating the 3D model requires active engagement. I agree. Taking the pictures also allowed me to recognize new details that allowed new appreciation to form. I did the horse and rider object, and I really appreciated the colors on the rider’s and horse’s faces and the backpack.
It looks like my reaction was mirrored by everyone above me, but I find it interesting that you gained more of an appreciation for the art after having to spend so long working with it. I was unable to make the time period for my group, so I missed out on that opportunity; however, I did spend a lot of time wrestling with the 3d model, and I would agree that I have a deeper understanding of the piece from that time.
You really start to notice the in’s and out’s of a particular piece when you go to make or edit a digital rendition of it. All the little cracks, crevices, and small details jump out at you as you’re trying to make the model as realistic as possible. It can definitely be interesting, but as you said, you can end up spending a lot of time looking at the same tiny piece over and over making sure it’s accurate.
Hi Griffin, I totally agree with your points on how moving from being a passive observer to an active modeler adds your own individual input to the object which then deepens your appreciation for it. I am curious about the “imperfections” that you mentioned in your piece. I also noticed some “imperfections” in my piece, the tomb figure of a horse, like holes where clay was taken out to test the authenticity of the piece. What were some “imperfections” in the piece you modeled?