The Picnic: time-based model

Once the notational section of The Picnic was complete the next stage was to create a model based on the interaction that was studied. This model could then be photographed and put back into the the notations as an image. By doing this 3D elements would be incorporated back into the map of the picnic, therefore linking it more directly to the original physical picnic and the time-based photograph. The notations alone acted on a purely 2D basis by deconstructing the picnic photograph into a flat illustration. By placing images of a 3D model with the notations the time-based drawing would become more dynamic and would develop the image to become more closely related to the original event.
In order for us to fully understand this concept examples were given of previous student's work that was completed for tasks similar to our own. The students had to study an interaction that they made with their environment that was personal to them and then model an object that would develop or improve this interaction. Specifically they had to relate their model to a body part that was linked to the interaction. Left and right are two examples. The first is a model based on the neck relating to make-up and hair routines. The second is a model of the movement of the leg.

These models demonstrate the abstraction of the original interaction into a physical reconstruction of the event from a different perspective. This is similar to the aim of The Picnic in that the original picnic was to be deconstructed then slowly reconstructed to produce a map of the picnic that showed it from a different perspective. The time-based model therefore acted as a part of this process, similar to the moulds and models made in the above projects.
The interaction that I had chosen to focus on was that of the hands within the picnic, and so for the model I made a mould of the back of my hand. I particularly made the knuckles more prominent by moulding a clenched hand rather than a flat hand, as this made the mould easier to recognise and a more interesting shape to look at. The following are images of the model that I made:

Once I had moulded the model of my hand and photographed it the images were placed over the hands of those in the time-based photograph as a final notation modelling the interactions that were made. The final notation therefore was as follows:

For more information on the production and development of the model and notations see the following posts:

1. My Cast and More
2. Almost completed in 2D
3. Final Notations

By incorporating the 3D element into the notations the interactions that were studied become instantly more prominent. The model also adds a sense of depth to the notation due to the placement of the model matching that of the time-based photograph. This is an interesting observation as not only does the inclusion of the model add a 3D object to the image, but it also translates the whole notation from a 2D perspective to a more 3D one. This demonstrates that the inclusion of the model was more effective than first intended, and therefore more successful.
Overall the time-based model allowed us to investigate further the ways in which we can interpret our interactions with the environment and develop them into a more abstract reconstruction.