EXHIBITION ANNOUNCEMENT: SUPERFUNDING
Vallot Auctioneers
Sep 21-24, 2023
Opening Reception September 21st from 5-9pm
East Palestine Train Derailment (Point Cloud Detail)
Crowd Sourced Photogrammetry, 2023
Indian Point Energy Center (Point Cloud Detail)
Crowd Sourced Photogrammetry, 2023
SUPERFUNDING, the latest solo exhibition of sculptural work, projection art and photo prints by Rhode Island based installation artist Teddy Trocki-Ryba, will be on view from September 21st-24th at Vallot Auctioneers’ Westminster St Gallery, in Providence RI. The opening reception will be held on September 21st, 2023 from 5-9pm.
Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility (Interactive Digital Model)
Crowd Sourced Photogrammetry, 2023
SUPERFUNDING features 3D printed sculptural landscapes made from found footage and photogrammetry. This series presents 3D printed representations of controversial and environmentally hazardous real-world locations, many of which are not publically accessible. Amongst the numerous off-limits locations featured in the series, Trocki-Ryba has chosen to focus on areas which are the subject of recent activism surrounding their negative impacts on the local environment, such as the Cop City site in Atlanta, East Palestine Train Derailment in Ohio, Red Hill Fuel Storage Depot in Hawaii, and the Project Willow Drilling Facility in Alaska’s National Petroleum Preserve.
The abstracted sculptural landscapes featured as part of SUPERFUNDING were created through the use of photogrammetry, a 3D scanning technique wherein a collection of photographs or video stills are fed into specialized software to create a 3D model. In order to create scans of these difficult to access locations, Trocki-Ryba repurposed found video footage which was not originally intended to be used for 3D scanning, including press stock video, corporate promotional material and drone footage from independent investigators.
Trocki-Ryba’s sculptures are made from white 3D printed material and installed against the gallery wall across from overhead projectors which ‘paint’ the sculptures and the surrounding wall space in ghostly animations that weave through the scanned landscapes, showing them in full photorealistic color.
This ethereal and immersive installation-based viewing experience is paired with text panels containing descriptions of the history and environmental impact of each of the featured locations as well as QR codes which link to press coverage and AR-enabled models of the featured sites for further self-guided exploration. Also displayed in the gallery are 2D photo prints showing abstracted “texture” files which are generated in the 3D scanning process.
Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility (Animation/Sculptural Detail)
Crowd Sourced Photogrammetry, 3D Printing, Projection 2023
SUPERFUNDING: artist’s statement by Teddy Trocki-Ryba
“SUPERFUNDING is an exploration of the deep entanglement between financial and political power, and the impact this dynamic has on the environment. By repurposing corporate promotional material, stock video, and drone video from independent investigators, I am able to recreate highly accurate 3D maps of controversial and environmentally hazardous locations with limited public access. Through this series of 3D printed sculptures, projection art and photo prints I aim to examine the unseen connections between corporate interests and government policy, and the ways in which these alliances can perpetuate environmental degradation and social inequality.
The United States government has granted superfund status to over 1,300 sites contaminated by hazardous waste. These sites, often located in low-income communities, indigenous communities and communities of color, pose a serious threat to public health and the environment. The number of sites which pose a similar threat but do not qualify for Superfund status is even greater, yet the secret cost of their environmental impact is less publicly known.
Drawing inspiration from my ongoing interest in the opaque networks of wealth and influence that shape our world, I use advanced fabrication technologies and cutting-edge 3D imaging techniques to visualize the physical manifestations of the invisible forces at play in our economic and political systems. By exposing these locations, the real world representations of the relationships between government subsidies, corporate profits, and environmental harm, I aim to provoke critical reflection on the power structures that govern our society, and to inspire new visions for a more just and sustainable future.
Through SUPERFUNDING, I hope provide context to the environmental ramifications of facilities and disasters which have been recently discussed on mainstream and alternative media. The goal of the series is to give viewers a glimpse into these forbidden locations and engage them with a nonlinguistic critique of state and corporate power, exploring the concept of shared responsibility when it comes to preservation of our environment.” Teddy Trocki-Ryba
Hanford Nuclear Site: B Reactor (Interactive Digital Model)
Crowd Sourced Photogrammetry, 2023
Project support for SUPERFUNDING has been provided by Autodesk's Boston Technology Center in the form of free and unlimited access to advanced additive manufacturing tools such as a Mimaki 3DUJ-2207 full color 3D printer and large scale Terabot 3D printer. Additional 3D printing has been completed at Trocki-Ryba's home studio using equipment he purchased for the purpose of printing single-color sculptures. Traditional photo printing has been completed on an Epson P8000 Inkjet photo printer with support from the Jamestown Arts Center and Vallot Auctioneers a Providence, Rhode Island based auction house.
More information is available at vallots.com, teddys.art as well as on Instagram @rybatrockiteddy.
Project Willow: Seawater Treatment Facility (Interactive Digital Model)
Crowd Sourced Photogrammetry, 2023