Contact Us

Department of Visual Arts
Visual Arts Building, Room 110

Hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm (Academic Year)

7:30 am - 4:30 pm (Summer)

1000 E. University Ave.

Dept. 3138

Laramie, WY 82070

Phone: (307) 766-3269

Email: faoffice@uwyo.edu

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Kevin Hardy

Artist Statement

The idea behind the doorway is influenced by Howl’s Moving Castle, a Studio Ghibli film, wherein a door serves as a portal that transports characters to new locations. With a turn of the knob the characters in the film would open the door to one of several locations: different fantastic cities, the middle of the wastes where witches are banished to, an open field full of flowers and streams, or a mysterious doorway into total darkness. Using this idea to create my artwork I made three locations on the other side of the door. Each with its own individual theme. However, in my doorway, the viewers’ perspective is restricted to the dimensions of the physical doorway. Being unable to step into the world they are seeing, the viewer is forced to use their imaginations to explore what they can see in greater depth, potentially adding to the immersive experience that I set out to create. 

The goal of my work in this piece is to create a series of projected and immersive animated 3D-worlds for viewers to explore. Each world is designed to be a new experience and is intended to invite viewers to interact with these worlds through a physical door. As the viewers open the door, each animated scene is projected onto a screen on the inside of the doorframe.  

My work is primarily inspired by fantasy and science fiction films and shows such as Howl’s Moving CastlePorco Rosso, and The Last Exile which have contributed to inspiring me towards becoming a digital artist and animator. However, my work is also inspired by my passion and former education in architecture and engineering. Paying tribute to these inspirations I created several models that are references to objects in these films and shows which I chose to complement each scene.

 

building
outer space scene
air scene

Doorway(s) 

3D modeling and animation in Blender, wood, drywall, paint 

84” x 84” x~100” high. 

2022

Contact Us

Department of Visual Arts
Visual Arts Building, Room 110

Hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm (Academic Year)

7:30 am - 4:30 pm (Summer)

1000 E. University Ave.

Dept. 3138

Laramie, WY 82070

Phone: (307) 766-3269

Email: faoffice@uwyo.edu

Find us on Instagram (Link opens a new window)Find us on Facebook (Link opens a new window)Find us on Twitter (Link opens a new window)Find us on LinkedIn (Link opens a new window)Find us on YouTube (Link opens a new window)