The Map, The Art

I've come across the work of Shane Hope before and I was drawn back to it for several reasons. 1. His work feels almost as though you are looking at a map and 2. It's 3d printing related. With the rising popularity of 3D printing, it's hard to keep up with everyone who is developing ideas, but his work has popped on my radar from time to time.

Nano-Nonobjective No. 81
2014
3D-printed PLA on panel
6″x6″

His work often looks like chaotic maps, but in actuality they are very small 3d printed algorithms and molecular studies that are layered together to create collages (While I do enjoy looking at his work, I really feel like he elevates his artist-speak to supreme dbag levels - this may or may not have something to do with trying to get the art community to take 3d printing seriously, but that's another post.).

I just happened to stumble upon this and found it interesting as it is somewhat related to a project my husband has been kicking around for a few years using brainwaves to create art. Ion Popion and Thomas Martinez have collaborated to translate brain activity into 3d printed art pieces. 

The last example I found was an illustration by D.W. Kellogg circa 1830's-1840's. 

I found it interesting because it was a lovely illustration but considering that it is illustrating what womanhood was supposed to be based on popular culture, it's illustrating an idealized woman. I think a lot about how women are constantly bombarded by outside influences on who they are and how they should behave, but never really gave thought to it being an ongoing cultural influence of popular culture. What made me slightly sad though, it that it seems that women have really grown into and accepted the tenets outlined here. Perhaps it's just the place I've been but it really seems as though "Woman as a sentimental, selfish, and superficial being driven by vanity, it places Love at the center of her heart, with Good Sense, Patience, and Prudence at its tip — or bottom, depending on the interpretation" is now the norm.