FIG001 Explosion Over The Horizon
stuart September 28th, 2008
Here is the first concrete output of Figures. On 3 June 2008 an explosion occurred on Western Australia’s Varanus Island which cut off a major gas supply for the state for many weeks. While the explosion was remote from any major centres in the state, its effects are still being felt by industry and, as a consequence, by individuals employed or laid off by those industries, and the families of those individuals. The news media has concentrated on the state government’s over reliance on one main supply but has not effectively described how the explosion has led to the loss of hundreds of jobs.
We chose this story as our first test-case at Figures. Our own Uriah Mathews developed the illustrations after many days of painstaking research to find reliable sources of data on gas use in Western Australia. To emphasise the locative aspects of the story (connections to the celebrated WA lifestyle, and so on) and to invite interaction with the public. We decided that a book of postcards, which direct contributors to this website, would be an appropriate medium for the message.
The fallout from this explosion continues to drift across the state’s political landscape. The story continues: can you help us piece it together by adding your own contribution and/or by commenting on our approach?
December 17th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
At CreateWorld2008 I saw Stuart explain his pedagogical approach and present his students’ visual responses. The presentation was interesting and raised a number of considerations worthy of further comment and discussion. This web site further contextualises that work.
I was particularly interested in the publication by figuresmag people in which graphic visual responses to social issues arising out of the gas plant explosion in WA in mid 2008 were created, printed and collated as book of tear-out postcards.
The work of figuresmag is operating in a sphere that spans fine art and graphic art practice. The artists are creating graphics using visually reductive techniques. These subvert the typical communicative intent that arises out of the context of power play where such expensive graphics will usually support the case of an agency with resources to commit to such contemplatively refined visual statements (the visual communication equivalent of having expert representation in matters of law, as opposed to legal aid or self representation).
On a somewhat related issue, in 2006 I conducted a case study of infographics that were published in the Australian news media during the Beaconsfield Mine disaster and rescue. Because currency and immediacy are so much part of the news media, practitioners in that field are rarely afforded the luxury of time to contemplate. Because that event became so temporally extended it was interesting to note how some of the graphics became more sophisticated over time. The article, which I warn has a hefty theoretical component, also discusses the value of 3D animation in the news narrative context. See reconstruction journal: http://reconstruction.eserver.org/083/holmes.shtml if interested.
December 18th, 2008 at 8:51 am
Ashley, thank you for your well-considered comment. Nicola Kaye and myself take precisely the stance you observe with our Figures project: We aim to subvert the typical approach to news visuality (albeit in a rather puny way, at least at this stage). We want to explore on our own terms, and with the help of contributors, what Robin Kinross has called the rhetoric of neutrality or objectivity. I look forward to reading your article when I have a spare couple of hours! It looks very thorough. It would be great if you are interested in being a regular commentator and contributor to this blog.
January 20th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
Took me ages to find this post, this time I’ll bookmark it.
January 20th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
Great comment, love the design of the site too.