METROPOLITAN TILES

By Katy Smits, 2019

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Commissioned by Metro Tunnel Creative Program

Curator - Global Art Projects

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Franklin St East Construction site

 

“I wanted to create a bold and graphic pattern based on the environment surrounding the site. I took close up photos of various architectural elements from the Melbourne City Baths, RMIT buildings and the Old Melbourne Gaol. I then drew on top of these images in colours taken from the locations and created a series of motifs and elements to use in the designs.

 

I took a lot of inspiration from Mediterranean tiles when creating the designs. I really enjoy the bright range of colours they use, the various layouts and possibilities created from such simple shapes. I started brainstorming with rough sketches and eventually moved into Adobe Illustrator to further develop and experiment with scale, shape and transition. I thought a tile pattern would work really well within the location, with its simple but bold repeat and would be a fun and interesting way to combine all the motifs in a way that made sense of the location.”

 

Katy Smits

 

Katy is a year 2 student on the Bachelor of Arts (Textile Design) program at RMIT. Her works feature elements of her surroundings interpreted through a variety of bold shapes and bright colours.

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RMIT School of Fashion & Textiles, Bachelor of Arts (Textile Design)

 

The School of Fashion & Textiles brings together Design, Technology and Enterprise. The focus of the Bachelor of Arts (Textile Design) program is textile structures, surfaces, patterns, materiality and their relationship with bodies, spaces and experiences. Textile designers are inquisitive, sensory and driven by solution seeking within a broad range of textile industries and design practices.

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This project was curated by Global Art Projects for the Metro Tunnel Creative Program.  GAP worked with 2nd year Textile Design students from RMIT to develop artwork concepts for construction hoardings as way to gain industry experience in the public art commissioning process.

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Instagram: @metrotunnelvic

Website: www.metrotunnel.vic.gov.au