My mobius maze

This was my second project for my 3D Concepts class in the fall semester (which just finished). The assignment was that we had to create something that demonstrated 'planes,' had two or more textures, was only one solid color, and had an inside and an outside. Barring that, we could do virtually anything we wanted with the piece.

I started by doing some basic sketches in my liddle 3D Concepts sketchiebook, and discovered a theme in my works, eventually. Most of them had to do with deceptive natures regarding texture. I also wanted a twisting form, especially a confusing one, and the mobius strip is a perfect example of such a definition (for those of you unaware of what a mobius strip is, it's a twisted form with no clear 'front' or 'back.' If you pick a point and run your finger along one side, it would twist around to the 'back' and 'front,' run over every inch of available surface, and come back to the beginning--you'd never lift your finger to transfer from one side to the other). I also toyed with the idea of a maze in a box in my original sketches. After talking the concepts over with my teacher, I decided to combine some of these elements, and create a maze on a mobius strip, along with some deceptive textures.

Building this was tough, because it had to be made entirely out of matboard, which if you didn't know is kinda like a tougher version of cardboard or something. It doesn't bend well. I solved this problem by cutting two long strips, soaking them for 40 seconds in a torrent of water in my dorm bathroom, and then bending them into the twisted mobius strip shape, clipping them into place, and leaving them for the weekend to dry. They hardened in the new twisted shape and it turned out great.

The half of it that's 3D took AGES to create, since I had to individually cut and measure the 'sides' of the thing and carefully bend other pieces of matboard into place for the top. This was the most time consuming part of the project, and I eventually had to take it back to my dorm and finish it outside of class. Sanding it down was the next task (I sanded this all with...a nail file...only time that thing was ever useful considering I don't file my nails, ). Then I layered the maze on top. Originally I wanted this more like the traditional "science-project-pet-mouse-goes-through-box-maze" look, but it just wasn't practical, so I used matboard layering to create a different sort of maze effect. It's not too bad I guess.

The fuzzy thing on the very top is meant to show the 'one true path' so that, despite getting lost, there is a logical way out. And not only that, it leads to one single path on the thinner half of this. So it's hope in chaos, one could suppose...though in the end it's futile, because since it's on a mobius strip, an eternally circular shape, you'll be stuck in the maze for an infinite amount of time. Gee, sucks for you. :giggles:

Overall I'm pleased with the design. Also I got some interesting responses at the class critique, when we all presented our projects. Several members of the class actually commented that they would be willing to buy the piece if it was for sale, they enjoyed it so much. Many of them were intrigued by the 'true path shown, but really no escape' concept, as well as my original concept of 'orderly chaos,' and still others liked that I chose a mobius strip. Also, while I hadn't noticed it originally (and you can't see it well in the photographs), each piece was put on a special pedastle and had a single light source on it...and in the case of this mobius maze, it ended up casting this bizarre but insanely cool inverse-shadow that resembled a reversed maze inside of it, further enhancing the 'orderly chaos' look. Quite a happy mistake, if I do say so myself.

The ideal viewing point is the first photograph at the top. From this angle, you can see how it subtly shifts from being a thick, 3D section to a thin area seamlessly, without a massive jump. It's hard to see while sitting on its own though...I might make a stand for it in the future.

And yes, this entire thing IS matboard, though I've had several remarks that it looks either metallic (or should be metal), or that it's rubbery and tire-like too. Whatever works. Also it was originally built white and I spraypainted it (people thought I was insane, standing outside the dorm spraypainting something on a windy day, probably not my brightest move...)

My fave 3D concepts piece as a result. Kawari's not so fond of it though He doesn't like the whole 'inescapable maze' theme so much, not that I can really blame him. Meh heh heh...

~Karma