Sunday, January 1, 2012

Abstraction and Imagination

In the last several days I have been thinking about two distinct questions as they pertain to making model railways: the first is the role of abstraction in model making, the second is the role of the imagined subject. Both topics have been the subject of "indirect discussion" for some time, but I think it is worth untangling them.

I have been thinking about abstraction in regards to Dan Pickard's Bush in a Box project. In a post on the Railroad-Line forum he made it clear that the square tips on some plants he modeled were not unintentional-- that he imagined layering detail, so that the over all impression of the model was convincing, but also indicating that much would remain abstract. To my eye this is thinking in the mode of a painter. I think the best model makers also think this way, recognizing where gesture and a viewers expectation conspire to create a complete illusion. It is convincing and efficient. At a time when it is possible to miniaturize so much--so many models are literal reductions--it is easy to forget this essential part of the model makers art.

To my eye, the imagined model has similar potential for the model maker,. An imagined model executed well convinces the viewer to suspend their disbelief and enter an imagined realm-- a place, or state of mind (to borrow the phrase Anders Wirten used recently on Model Rail Radio) that they might never have otherwise experienced or entertained. When we visit George Selios' Franklin and South Manchester, we do not visit depression era New England, but Visit a world created from whole cloth now shared by viewer and maker. While truth might always be stranger than fiction, our ability to create and experience fiction is distinctly powerful.

The photo here has nothing to do with either of the above points, rather it is my own digression into imagining Pieter Breugel's Tower of Babel as a model railway.

4 comments:

  1. Hi Peter,
    Just wanted to say that I'm finding your "thinking" very interesting to follow. I've enjoyed some of the recent postings with how ideas are progressing. Given some of your recent projects, I think you may be able to put together some rather unique little pieces. Good stuff, and thanks for sharing the process.

    Cheers,
    Dan

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  2. Dan,

    Although I keep citing your work as an example. . . I promise I am not stalking your "Bush in a Box" project. . .

    Anders Wirten and I have been talking, and trying to figure out how to get more discussion of the artistic aspects of model railways out there. I think our underlying concern was that talking about prototypes, history, or technical issues is so cut and dry that those discussions dominate much of the hobby press--yet the things we get excited about are these more artistic questions--something that you are clearly working with in your projects. Anders has contacted several modelers doing interesting things in Europe to encourage them to participate in a Model Rail Radio recorded coming up in February. I suggested that you would be someone who would be good to hear from as well--as the work you are doing is so unique. We may try to start a thread on Railroad-line as well.

    Peter

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  3. Hi Peter,
    Its a bit of a fine line sometimes, and finding the artist elements within the prototype can be one of those little things that makes a model memorable...it has both art and proto appeal then. I have had a number of conversations with other modelling friends about choices of models, mainly in respect to the more competition style of modelling, and what can make a good subject matter. There are some great structures or scenes to model, but if they lack a sense of artistry to the final picture, it isn't going to appeal to the imagination as much. It can be a bit of a hunt for that X factor of sorts.

    A thread for "the art of model railroading" would be an interesting read, but may be one to split ideas a bit. Art can be one of those things...either love it or hate it :)

    Cheers,
    Dan

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  4. Dan,

    I think you are probably right about the thread--I started coming to the same conclusion today--that it might be unnecessarily divisive--perhaps the best is just to endeavor to make great models and get them out there.

    Best,

    Peter

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