Ken ✶ Syakira
UNIT 1
UNIT 2
✶ info
syakiraken@gmail.com
★read: Threshold States
My publication trial for the research festival presented the challenge of translating my three-dimensional drawing into the form of publication. I wanted to play with the idea of the window as a portal within the publication, using the act of flipping a page to create anticipation, prompting the reader to ‘peek’ at what lay on the next sheet.
Something intrinsic to the work is the intricate lattice design, So I want to keep it intact. My initial approach was to emboss the design to visually suggest depth. I spent time troubleshooting with the metalwork and embossing process, but quickly encountered major limitations. The complexity of the window designs I made was too detailed for the metal laser cutter, and the pressure required to emboss deep enough would risk damaging the plates or cutting the paper.
I attempted a simpler emboss of the overall window frame design instead, experimenting with different doable pressure, but wasn’t satisfied by the result. The embossing was barely visible. I realize the ambition for depth from the embossing was incompatible with the material constraints.
I then focused on laser cutting the designs to paper. I worked closely with the Digital Fabrication team to ensure the CNC machine could accurately read my drawings, experimenting with varying levels of detail to find the optimal result.
I also initially considered adding transfer paper to the back of the cut papers, but I realized this would diminish the essential conceptual element: the subtle shadows produced by the cuts. The simple, open cut proved the most effective way to translate the window’s presence, relying on light and shadow rather than texture to evoke depth.