2019-2020 Interim Portfolio

The Art of What Lays Beneath Matthew Smith Unit 21

Introduction

A home, a workspace and a lair of a fictitious surgeon. A surgeon’s dwelling where he will: observe, examine, archive and develop anatomical components. His curiosity of what lays beneath becomes a curse, a torment, a fixation that drives self-experimentation.

Exploration of one’s own body that exists within the intertwined realm of masochism and the tortured determination of an artist.

These sessions of dissection will span days, deep within the confines of his hidden sanctuary. A sanctuary that is most private, concealed from the faint hearted. The studio allows his mind to thrive without the restriction of his own body, whilst binding the limits of his experiments to the confines of the studio. The studio becomes a threshold, once crossed the surgeon can cease his worldly masquerade and embrace the yearning for exploration, Jekyll becomes Hyde and the self- experimentation begins.

Dissection on Great Windmill Street

William Hunter

The Hunteriana Anatomy School, Great Windmill St

Prescient day, Great Windmill St

The sites situated on great windmill street in what was once the Hunterian anatomy school. The leading anatomical school of the time (1769-1839). This was the home and workplace of William Hunter a prominent and revolutionary surgeon. The street itself was dissected into two with the arrival of Shaftsbury avenue

Site Dissection

Aerial Perspective looking East

Aerial Perspective looking North West

Site Dissection

Perspective looking North East from the intersection of Great Windmill Street and Shaftesbury Avenue

Perspective looking south down Great Windmill Street

Spatial Examination - Anatomical Theatre

Light Apertures

Rigging

Body

Controlled Illumination

Amphitheatric A lecture at the Hunteriana Anatomy School, Great Windmill St Robert Blemmell Schnebbelie

Light Apertures

Rigging

Body

Amphitheatric

The Anatomical Theatre at Cambridge

Light Apertures

Rigging

Controlled Illumination Amphitheatric

The old operating theatre at the London hospital demolished in 1889 FM harvey

The examination and extraction of key spatial components found across anatomical theatres. Amphitheatric Seating and large windows all focus around the operation table and its subject.

Spatial Examination - Dissection Room

Light Apertures

Body

The dissecting room - Thomas Rowlandson

Light Apertures

Controlled Illumination

Body

The interior of the Department of Anatomy at Cambridge University. Photograph, 1888-1893

Rigging Controlled Illumination

Body

Cooke’s School of Anatomy

The examination and extraction of key spatial components found across dissection room.

The focus of the room is divided up individual tables where subjects can be dissected and examined. Lights and rigging are provide for each table to further assist this.

Spatial Examination - Life Drawing Room

Rigging

Lighting

Body

Controlled Illumination Amphitheatric

Drawing from Life at the Royal Academy, (Somerset House), 1 January 1808 - Thomas Rowlandson

Controlled Illumination

Rigging

Body

Amphitheatric

Johann Zoffany RA, The Royal Academy Of Arts 1773

Controlled Illumination Rigging

Body

Amphitheatric

Life School, Royal Academy, 1865. Charles West Cope

The examination and extraction of key spatial components found across life drawing rooms. Similar to the anatomical theatre with a central focus point around a subject. A main controlled light is used to illuminate the scene with small lamps providing lights for drawing and note taking.

Spatial Examination - Illumination Biopsy

The Life Drawing Room

The Dissection Room

The Anatomical Theatre

The illumination of the focal subjects is prominent across all precedents. one example from each special precedent type has been examined and had the light dissected from it.

The Suturing of Spatial precedents depicting the contrast between life and death.

The Spatial Operations Rig

Spatial armatures supporting the operation of dissecting, drawing and recording.

Rig Taxonomy

Scene Lamp

Drawing Desk

A large arcing lamp is used to illuminate the entirety of the scene.

The drawing desk consisting of an adjustable drawing board, stall and individual lamp, allowing the illumination of the bored without disrupting the scene.

Rig Taxonomy

Recording Chair

Operation Table

The recorders jib manoeuvres the viewer through desired positions giving access to multiple views of the operation The operations table is at the centre of the rig. it can be heavily adjusted to aid in different procedure and the viewing of it. Individual spotlights can also be adjusted to compliment it.

Operation Chair

A chair designed for surgical procedure. The chair can be articulated to possession and support the subjects as needed.

Operation Chair

Operation Chair

Further iteration of the chair. Restrains and vices have been added with a viewing mask to focus the gaze.

self surgery

Dr Evan O’Neill Kane

Dr leonid ivsnovicj rogsnov removing his own appendicitis whist in Antarctica on expedition in 1961 at the age of 27.

Dr Evan O’Neill Kane performed several self-surgeries. First in 1921 removing his own appendicitis then 1932 at the age of 70 repairing his own inguinal hernia

Self-operation Contortion

The surgeon contorting their body to dissect and examine their lower left arm.

Self-operation Armatures

Supporting armatures that allow a surgeon to contort and hold their body in a position for self-operation. Here the surgeon is positioned to dissect their lower left arm. Moulded Arm, chest and leg support aid in keeping the body restrained throughout the procedure

Self Operation Armatures

The bespoke casting and moulding of the supporting armatures

Anatomical Joints - Synovial Joint Taxonomy

Hinge Joint

Pivot Joint

Saddle Joint

Ellipsoid Joint

Ball & Socket Joint

Plane Joint

A taxonomy of synovial joints found within the human body. Each joint type, slide, pivot and rotate in different axises and planes. Allowing the body to traverse and interact with space. The architecture aims reference and reflect the flexibility and adaptability of these joints

Anatomical Door - Contact Sheet

The redesigning and production of a door using anatomical components.

Anatomical Door

Ball and Socket Joint - Contact Sheet

A responsive production of a ball and socket joint, complete with synovial fluid and ligaments. the model can be articulated to make the parts glide, rotate and pivot.

Ball and Socket Joint - Contact Sheet

A responsive production of a ball and socket joint, complete with synovial fluid and ligaments. the model can be articulated to make the parts glide, rotate and pivot.

Ball and Socket Joint

Ball and Socket Joint

Ball and Socket Joint

Ball and Socket Joint

Ball and Socket Joint