LAPUTA - THE FLYING CASTLE

I use a lot of discarded objects including outdated / damaged household gadgets as a part of my work. In

the process of working, they lose their original use identity but acquire a new meaning. They often have

movements controlled by electronic circuits. They also have electrical lights and sound. A lot of the time,

the sound made by electric motors and movements of the mechanical parts become the sound for the

work. These sounds are important. I sometimes add other sounds like electronic beeps, phone ringtones,

etc.

The methodology of the practice includes:

● Making and remaking with discarded objects or readymades, adding, cutting, reorganising them

or their parts, making them move with simple mechanisms or with electric motors and

electronic circuits.

● Experimenting with movement: Often the work is about the movement. What makes it move,

motor or hand? How are the joineries made? How is it controlled, do the viewers operate it?

● Sound: How it is made, sound of the moving parts or added from CDs or micro chips. Sometimes

the object is made to create a sound like an altered calling bell, telephone ringer, car horn etc.

What the course proposes:

We will watch Hayao Miyazaki’s animation film “Laputa, The Flying Castle”. The film is about a mysterious

flying castle and the adventure of two children. In the film the flying machines have a very futuristic

attitude but look really archaic. We will design various flying objects taking clues from the film. These

flying machines can be like a large toy. They should have movements. These movements could be made

with strings or lever mechanisms like puppets or with rubber bands. They don’t have to fly, it is enough if

it stimulates the movement of flight. The project would end with making a manual giving instructions of

what it does and how to fly it. Of course, this is all imagined based on the object that will be made.