212 NYC

Manhattan Model

Yutaka Sone - Little Manhattan (2011) - 2.5 tons of marble carved into a precise model of Manhattan

This is a map of Manhattan transformed into a marble stone model. It is 3ft. tall,  and 9ft. long. Sone put this model on hold after 9/11 because he wanted Manhattan to get back on its feet, back to running as usual before he continued it. He started working on it again in 2006 making a wood and foam model, basing it on photos he took from a helicopter himself and from images on google earth. He also visited sites himself to get a feel of how it looked in real life and its topography. He then, in 2007, started carving it into the marble.

There is also an element of harmony when it comes to this model. The top of the model is a precise carving of manhattan, but the bottom of it, as the artist stated himself, isn't and he was free to design it as he wished. the bottom is smooth and looks somewhat like a skirt. It looks like it has flow. ''I wanted the bottom to be more poetic and elegant, like a white feminine dress.” (Yutaka Sone, 2011, Issue of  New York) It is mostly done to scale however things such as the empire state building are made a bit bigger so that they were able to carve in their detail and as a symbol of their importance.

The material chosen is also of importance. He first made the model in wood and foam but the finished model is done in white marbel. It's white colour gives it a sort of harmonious look and feel. It is smooth in texture, white light colour so it immediately grabs the viewer's attention and makes him more curious. It makes one move closer to observe it and look at the little details it entails.

Im also using this to help me with my concept design. I always find pictures of buildings interesting no matter on what they're put, be it a poster, a bag, a book cover and so on. So I thought.. why not a shoe? I really like the idea that this model is made in white  marble.  It gives it a harmonious look and makes it look simple and clean even though so complex and detailed. I always preferred a white pair of tennis shoes to anything coloured, because they look fresh and stick out more. It also gives u a cleaner look with a good finish. I was thinking about transferring a picture of a place such as Manhattan or New york onto a pair of shoes. It will be a unique design, elaborate yet sophisticated. I was thinking of a design that would look similar to my blog background picture itself.  I won't only be restricted to using a picture but maybe I could use a map itself as the design for the shoe. 


Yutaka Sone, 2011, White City: Manhattan in a Marble Dress. New York Media LLC [online] Available at: <http://nymag.com/arts/art/features/yutaka-sone-2011-10/>  [Accessed 16 December 2012]
Tumblr, 2012, Little Manhattan Yutaka Sone. [online] [Accessed 16 December 2012]