Two Digital Tigers is a good example of non-fiction sculpture

In trying to establish a paradigm for architecture which acknowledges the validity of fiction narratives, I have recognised that we are used to the idea that narratives in art and sculpture are usually fictional, and I think that there may even be a general assumption that they are always fictional. However portraits and realistic landscape painting, and sculptures of politicians and historic leaders, are examples of non-fiction narratives in art. But it is not only in conservative approaches that we find narratives justified by purpose.

A good contemporary example of a non-fiction, or documentary, narrative in contemporary sculpture is Two Digital Tigers, by LAVA (Laboratory for Visionary Architecture) and Jennifer Kwok. This beautiful work, utilising lantern-making techniques and lit with LED’s was created to mark the start of the lunar Year of the Tiger, and to draw attention to the fact that tigers are an endangered species. The World Wildlife fund has taken this work to Asia and the United States to raise awareness of the issue.

Architects are used to non-fiction narratives: perhaps that is why this venture into sculpture by LAVA took a documentary approach.

More info at http://www.morfae.com/0180-lava/

About Fiction Architecture
I am an architect born in 1953 and practising in Melbourne as a partner in Simon and Freda Thornton Architects. I established this blog to develop a theoretical basis for a type of architecture which I call 'fiction architecture', based on imitation, pretence, trickery and playful deception, as an alternative to most 'non-fiction' architecture which may be categorized as clear, honest, sincere and didactic.

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