Memorable B-Sides: Samantha Forbes’ “Light of Day

The Memorable B-Sides series spotlights writing and art submitted to us that weren’t selected for print, but that are fantastic in their own right. Each introduction tells you why we returned to the piece. As a disclaimer — we aren’t experts, only fans offering possible interpretations.

Architecture was never something that generally sustained my interest, but I was unquestionably intrigued by the visuals of this piece. On the surface, viewers are presented with the image of a seemingly vacant building, its suspended nature relatively peaceful. A closer analysis, however, reveals an alternative perspective — among the filtered sunlight are unilluminated archways, taunting the eyes with false invitations to explore unfamiliar territory. In that regard, the image may be regarded as a representation of the designer’s immediate and limited field of view and her acknowledgment of the natural inquiries of what lies beyond. Samantha Forbes’s three-dimensional animation for an area of the Natural History Museum in London effectively combines light and shadows in a manner that redefines the space. Among the simplicity of the designated color scheme is a visual complexity that doesn’t allow itself to exist without notice.