ARTS & CULTURE
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Creative School showcase breaks barriers with innovative technology By Khushy Vashisht
COURTESY OF TMU WEBSITE SOURCE
In collaboration with Cadillac Fairview, The Creative School showcased student and faculty-made artwork that was designed with the influence of technological advancements from Jan. 10 to Jan. 29 at the Eaton Centre. The exhibit, titled “Creative Technology Showcase: Disrupting Technology in the Creative Fields,” strived to “push the boundaries of creative technology,” according to the display description. It featured pieces made in the school’s Design + Technology Lab using tools like 3D printers, laser cutters, digital knitting machines and more. Nora Alkeyat, a 2021 graduate from Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) interior design program, had her piece titled “Growth” showcased at the exhibit. The dome-like structure, which was 3D printed, was Alkeyat’s final project in her graduating year. Its vibrant red colour, paired with intricate patterns resembling brain-shaped coral species, worked together to “working non-stop, the frustration create a prototype light fixture. of being unable to control things, the anxiety of not knowing who we are [and more].” “Especially in urban Chen said her inspiration came settings, being remifrom living in a capitalist sociniscent of nature can ety—one she deemed to be corrupt be very inducing of and toxic. stimulation” “I think it represents a lot of us, normal people living but at the same time the piece is very cautioning,” In creating this piece, Alkeyat ex- Chen said. “Are we really living or amined patterns in nature, which she just surviving?” said she is inspired by. “The name is ironic because it’s “I like to explore 2D and 3D pat- the ‘Living Self’ but are we actually terns and how they can impact spac- living is the question,” she added. es and our environment,” she said. Chen said her interest in the con“Especially in urban settings, being cept of interactive design allowed reminiscent of nature can be very her to combine technology with inducing of stimulation and just costume. Chen’s project used laser [provide] a visual interest.” cutting to create the felt hands and Alkeyat also reflected on the im- creative coding to control the neon pact of her work being displayed to LED lights under the material. the public. She said she went to the Chen said incorporating these new exhibit this past weekend with her technological tools within her work parents. Knowing that her work was positively impacted her confidence. on display made her parents proud, “I feel like technology was really she said. “Just having a platform, far from me,” Chen said. “Now, I feel that’s why it means a lot to me.” like I’m actually a part of the comChloe Chen, a 2022 graduate of munity and it makes me excited and TMU’s fashion program, designed makes me want to pursue more in and created her piece titled “Living this field.” Self.” The costume was one of the two parts of her final project titled, “Are we really living “Pound of Breathing Flesh,” which or just surviving” she completed before graduating. The “Living Self” was a costume that had hanging arms attached Carol Varghese, a second-year to it in place of arm holes and 250 professional communication stuhand-shaped pieces of felt all over dent who worked at the exhibit, the torso. Colourful neon LED said she saw an average of 50 to 60 lights were hidden by the hands, people visit the exhibit during her only seen once the person wearing four-hour daytime shifts. the piece spins. “I [saw] people from all different In an Instagram post by Chen, fields. People who work in tech— she described the lack of arm holes they’re super interested in what each within the costume contributing of these pieces are about and what to a sense of being trapped and machines they use to make it,” Varhow this contributes to feelings of ghese said. “But we also get people
from everyday life...just normal people who are students.” Jonathon Anderson, an associate professor at the School of Interior Design and director of the Design + Technology LAB, said he was approached by The Creative School to compile a series of pieces that could go above and beyond in creativity,
software and hardware. “The Eaton Centre is really interested in expanding its portfolio of creative activities and programming for culture and the arts,” Anderson said. “We collected [the work of] students, staff and faculties that [consist of] not only the various pieces of hardware that we have down in
the lab but also start to push some of the software that we have available in the lab as well.” Anderson added that he is working on creating instructional workshops for using the Lab’s technology. He hoped to have more news about the potential workshops later in the winter 2023 semester.
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