The event, which was delivered to the S2 pupils by award-winning artists Vicky Isley and Paul Smith [aka boredomresearch], not only gave them an insight into the techniques used as part of the ‘Paisley Pearls’ project but allowed them to contribute to the final artwork.

The artists’ project, which will be officially launched at an event at Paisley Museum on 1st November 2016, aims to create a unique Paisley pattern for every citizen of the town and, ultimately, the world.

The Southampton-based artists were named as the winners of the inaugural £25,000 UWS Paisley Digital Art Commission in June 2015. They came up with the ambitious project after reflecting on the organic basis of the classic Paisley pattern which in turn led them to look at endangered fresh water mussels at a cellular level, a mixture of scientific and artist practice that the artist team are known for.

The unique commission was launched by University of the West of Scotland’s Creative Media Academy in collaboration with with New Media Scotland, curators of the long running Alt-w digital art project, to create a new piece of work for the town to support the Paisley 2021 City of Culture bid.

This latest workshop, which follows an earlier workshop delivered to university students, offered fun and engaging ways to for school pupils to use 3D software and basic coding to create miniature patterns that will contribute towards their understanding of how the new Paisley Pearl digital forms have been created by the artists.

The UWS Paisley Digital Art commission is a pilot project originated by Professor Nick Higgins, Director of the UWS Creative Media Academy. Professor Higgins said: “We are delighted that these pupils had the chance to not only learn more about the UWS Paisley Digital Art commission but also contribute to the final artwork which will be launched next month.

“The project is playing an innovative part in Paisley’s Heritage Asset Strategy to engage and re-imagine the town’s heritage in the digital age and contribute to the town’s preparations for 2021 City of Culture bid.

“It has been inspiring to see the way that Vicky and Paul have engaged with the local community through their coding and 3D workshops to digitally reinvent the iconic Paisley pattern for the digital age. It symbolises how Paisley itself is evolving as it vies to become the UK’s City of Culture in 2021.”

The UWS Paisley Digital Art Commission marks the first time the University has comissioned a public digital artwork with Renfrewshire Council and worked with New Media Scotland who have acted as consultants on the project.

Previous work by boredomresearch has featured on the BBC and Daily Discovery Channel, Canada, and in TIME magazine and The New Scientist. On 29 September boredomresearch won the prestigious Lumen Prize for the Moving Image for their work AfterGlow. The Lumen Prize celebrates the very best art created digitally.

 

Links

University of the West of Scotland

Paisley 2021