New York Daily Photo Analytics

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Throw Me a Curve


I recall battling with my graphic artist over using just her eye to place objects and making other judgements that you could simply do by measurement. I was a believer that if something can be measured, it should be. Nothing else made any sense, and just using the human eye was unfathomable to me.

I spent hours with toys of my generation - Erector Sets, Etch-a-Sketch and Lincoln Logs, but there was always something I didn't like about them. I could never put my finger on it exactly, but at last I think I can. I see it clearly now. Left right, x and y - my mind has been shaped by the orthogonal toys and the scientific tools and concepts of my youth. Working in this way can dull the mind and artistry. Just look at creative work done by those with a mathematical or engineering approach. Most artists are typically not wired to think and work in these ways.

Much of Manhattan was designed as a grid - see True North here. Certainly there is justifiable practicality in a grid from many perspectives - just ask any visitors navigating Manhattan's gridded areas. But not everything should bend to the will of the practical, efficient, most utilitarian or most cost effective - see Very Practical here.

The Eiffel Tower was highly controversial at the time of its building. And it is arguable that it has the look of something designed by an engineer. But there is one redeeming feature constant throughout the structure - curves. I can't imagine how it would look built completely with right angles.

Sitting in traffic in Long Island City on the approach to the 59th Street Bridge, with a hideous Erector Set above adding insult to injury, it makes me want to roll down a window, stick my head out and scream: "I can't wait for the bridge. Please, someone, throw me a curve..."

7 comments:

Mary said...

Noticing how cars are curvier than they started out. Except the Element and Scion, (throwbacks.)

Brian Dubé said...

Mary - good observation. There was a great New York Times magazine article years ago about the trend towards the benign in product design. The disappearance of fins and hard edges, particularly in autos. This is the other extreme - no edges or lines at all.

Anonymous said...

There are curves in your photo: the arches at the bottom of the bridge shot.

Riding a bicycle up this bridge from Manhattan to Queens, there are many curves.

Imagine if the pyramids were curved...

Brian Dubé said...

Anonymous - Yes - that was implied in the story: "I can't wait for the bridge." The bridge itself has arches.
I am not against straight lines. And the pyramids only has an orthogonal base. The bulk of it is not.

NYfan said...

The cars have lost altogether their charakter with all this curves. Once you could say about a car: Yes, this is a Audi, and that is a BMW or something else by watching its line! Today? Well, as you said, Brian: no edges, no line!

Brian Dubé said...

NYfan - I agree. The industrial design of autos are so disappointing today - most look like the same bulbous mass. American and imports alike. Only the high end sports cars break the rules.

Anonymous said...

I love the QBB ... apparently beauty IS in the eye of the beholder. And .. I beg to differ ... there are many curves.