Bryce Manoovaloo
For my Minor Speculative Module I chose to adapt Bertolt Brecht's "Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui", Originally set in 1930s Chicago, my rendition transposes the events of Arturo and his Rise to power to a fictional surreal 1960s Chicago. I wanted to set the absurdity of the play in a highly stylized, colorful environment, like a noir comic book brought to life.
My Focus through my design research and process was on the Hotel, a key location through out the play, which I felt was left to a wide interpretation in the original text. I wanted The Hotel to feel unbelievably large, an expansive labyrinth that these characters simply exist within, and who we witness from an outside perspective.
Meltin' Pot DocuDrama
For My Major I worked along side two fellow design students to do a historic reconstruction of a 1940's B17 Flying Fortress Plane, as part of a TV Documentary detailing the events of a crash off the cost of Donegal and the subsequent events that followed. Our aim for this project was to achieve as accurate of a recreation as possible. However, most important was to capture the tense moments of a young flight crew, all about our age at the time about to crash, and having to accept the fact that this may be there last moments alive.
My objectives when going into 4th year was to push myself, and getting involved in a variety of projects, to showcase a wide display of skills. My goals were to improve my AutoCAD drawing skills, and 3D renderings in software's like SketchUp. Though as well, I wanted to develop my research process, the Docudrama pushed me in that way, as it was an honest attempt at trying to recreate an authentic plane.
In terms of my creative goals, I wanted to invest myself fully into designing a world. Using Arturo as a jumping off point to craft an entire lore and design language that felt uniquely my own and spoke to the version of the story I wanted to tell, as well as honoring the original text and its message.
Over 4th year I managed to work on a variety of projects, which I feel demonstrate my skill sets. Ranging from white card models, set dressing, technical drawings and painted elevations.
Abstract
Monster’s give form to our worst fears and phobias, a manifestation of hate and our own prejudice. They are nothing more than a reflection of our own monstrosity. Yet, we blame them; we as a society label certain people as ‘monsters’ and deem acts as ‘monstrous’ reluctant to consider our own bias. Mary Shelley’s Victor Frankenstein is no less a monster than his 8-foot reanimated corpse, a doctor willing to alter the course of reproduction for the purpose of his own hubris, and doing what he wants because he can, never considering the aftermath of his discovery.
The link between God and creation is universally linked. You could describe Victor as having a God Complex a mortal man subverting the laws of nature to spit in the face of the Divine. Like the book's full title suggests, he is the Modern Prometheus.
However, a detail I’m fascinated by, and what I want to explore through this essay, is the lack of women within this narrative. This removal of the feminine speaks to the theme of Frankenstein, the creation of life that bypasses women. From it comes a being, plagued with hatred and vengeance, looked upon as evil. It begs the question, of what would a creature born in the opposite means be treated like within society.
My Thesis has no direct link with the my projects, other than the design of Poor things being an influence for My adaptation of Arturo Ui. Though it speaks to a fascination I have of Monsters, and how these creatures are represented in media.
Bryce Manoovaloo is an aspiring production designer based in Dublin with a background in Art and Illustration. Over the Years Bryce has collaborated in numerous short films, Theatre productions and conceptual design practice's. He has developed skills in software's like AutoCAD, SketchUp and V-ray. In working on a wide variety of projects he has found a keen interest in set dressing and hand on roles like stand by art direction. As well both hand drafting and digital technical drawings. As Bryce prepares to enter his professional practice he is eager to apply his skills in both the Film and Theatre world.
