New Terain
Graduate Exhibition, 2016.

New Terrain is a speculative design project created around the narrative of being lost in the Tasmanian wilderness. This experimental body of work metaphorically explores the status of feeling lost as a platform to research and create a body of design artifacts that are not premised by commercial constraints.

The major piece is a projected interactive landscape that allows the viewer to explore Tasmania in a panoramic installation, using a sculptural controller resembling surveying equipment. The viewer can walk around exploring the terrain using a joystick, by manipulating the chrome sphere mounted on the tripod. Within the environment, there are no labelled landmarks and the scale of Tasmania is shifted, meaning that the viewer may at times feel lost in the landscape, just as I was when search for direction and understanding of my creative practice. When exploring the terrain, the viewer will encounter different text that reflects on my creative journey throughout the project.

This project features work created using ASTER GDEM data from NASA and PANO by Heavyweight Studio. 

*New Terrain uses the Unreal® Engine. Unreal® is a trademark or registered trademark of Epic Games, Inc. in the United States of America and elsewhere.” and “Unreal® Engine, Copyright 1998 – 2020, Epic Games, Inc. All rights reserved.

Ben Fisher — Art Direction / Graphic Design / Photography / Sculpture / Modelling / Animation

New Terrain
Projector, Unreal Engine 4*, NASA GeoTIFF, iMac
Dimensions variable

Controller
Assemblage, paint, reflective adhesive, vinyl cut logotype, Arduino Leonardo, joystick
1300 x 800 x 800 mm

Map
Light boxes, 3x 80gsm B1 prints, rocks
400 x 2200 x 1100 mm

Explore and Experiment
Video, digital photo frame, reflective tape, usb
137 x 225 x 30 mm

Sensor Beacon
Assemblage, paint, LED light, reflective adhesive, vinyl cut logotype
1100 x 130 x 90 mm