Connections

The bride of the wind by Oskar Kokoschka.

( Click to enlarge)

            Oskar Kokoschka was an Austrian artist, poet and play writer. I came across him while I was reading a book called "Why we love the way we do" by Preeti Shenoy. Supposedly one of India's leading female writers. Surprisingly what I found most interesting in the book was not the relationship advice (which I do not even require at the moment), but the story of "The bride of the wind".

           So, Heres how the story goes; Oskar kokoschka fell madly in love with a widow called Alma. She was his muse, his center of attention and was slowly becoming the center of his universe as well. Things took a bad turn when Oskar began to behave possessively and had to leave Alma during the WW1. When he returned from the war, he found his Alma to have left him for another man. This devastated Oskar to an extent at which he made a life like replica of Alma. He hired a professional mannequin maker and to make her feel life like they used swan skin on the mannequin. Oskar took the mannequin with him wherever he went, to operas, plays, you name it. He even hired house maids to take care of it. It was all great until the day he realized he was unsuccessful in replacing the void Alma had created within his chest. This realization made him behead the mannequin during a party. 

          The painting was a result of this ache. Oskar kokoshka loved Alma till the day he died. Amazing, isn't it?  But you know what I found even more mind blowing? Alma left Oskar for Walter Gropius! YES! The German architect! Bauhaus! Fagus factory! I was amazed by this connection with architecture. The story immediately felt personal! I guess what i took from this incident is "read whatever you get your hands on" the connections will form where they have to. 

           

Mock Models

                                  (click to enlarge) 

          My favorite method of designing a buildings aesthetics are by making miniature mock up models of the outer shell. I adore the simplicity and ease with which it all comes together. The concept is so easily translated into a model and the tweaks can be made even more easily. Functions are fit accordingly and therefore my life is resolved. 

          These models belong to my second semester design project. The concept was based on the flight of a bird as the project was to design a childrens library. My love for origami was finally being used as I transformed this symbol of flight and bird into paper and then picked up those lines to make these mock models. I have to admit it was a lot of fun! I truly believe one needs to feel excited about an idea for it to really flourish. This sentiment does contradict the belief of the tortured artist, which many would say is the true color of creativity. But I disagree. My beliefs agree with "Big Magic" a book by Elizabeth Gilbert. You have to be able to enjoy your own work positively.