A Photo Every Day from the Sunshine Coast - Australia

Saturday 21 March 2009

Supergraphic 1



In our new environment, our designers and planners are constantly seeking ways of disguising utilitarian buildings economically. We have dozens of examples, some better than others, some enormously complicated, and over the coming year I'll make a point of photographing more.

Can the designer of this building really have foreseen the blue of the sky, or the shadow of the streetlight interacting with his/her seemingly random vertical lines? As time goes by, I have no doubt the original intent will be obscured by trees, and many will be painted over in the quest for economy in the future, so perhaps I can record some for posterity!

Since this won't be the last, you may as well be informed!

Supergraphics is a coined word of prefix Latin Super meaning ‘more, speacially, extremely’ and Greek Graphikos ‘write and schematize’ joined together to mean ‘an oversized graphics’. And the prefix super means Big and Gigantic. But the oversize not only denotes to the size of the picture but also transcendence of spatial limitations.

Supergraphics has a wide use with many different appellations.

Supergraphics are often called as the street art and urban murals used in urban environments. In the beginning it used to be called Giant Graphics, and Outdoor Wallpaintings, Urban Fantasy, Mural Painting and Big Art. In France it was called le Mur Peint, and Die Bernalt Stadt in Germany. The history of
supergraphics dates way back to the prehistoric cave paintings, however it was only in the 20th century after the Industrial Revolution that Supergraphics settled itself in the urban settings. The first use of the term ‘supergraphic’ is thougt to be by Prof. Charles W. Moor who covered the walls of the shower-room in
Sea Ranch with powerful colors and patterns.


If you would like to read more on the role of Architectural Supergraphics in Identity Design, here is a paper published by the HongKong Polytechnic which I rather enjoyed!

It looks like I really am away a few more days this time, hopefully the scheduled posts are appearing and you can read this!


Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia
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5 comments

Julie said...

This would have been good for April Theme Day.

Joan Elizabeth said...

I really like the effort made to beautify buildings, constructions sites and roadside noise barriers with this art. Happy to enjoy all the photos you can take of such things.

Ben Nakagawa said...

This is very interesting pattern. T was looking for few minutes but not quite get it what is that black line is.

Babzy.B said...

beautiful Supergraphic , thanks for the explanations , i've learnt a new word today ;)

Lois said...

I like the lines in this picture! Nicely composed!

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