A world of imagined landscapes and closed suburbs, Canadian Artist, Ross Racine's hand drawn digital artwork reminds use of a world that almost is. Taking a cue from Google Earth and our contemporary ability to view our world from above, Racine re-imagines the suburbia into figural symbols and patterns. What is so beautiful about this work is that, if one had never seen the satellite imagery of suburbia, much of these worlds would be completely believable. The inability to navigate endless winding suburban streets can easily leave one disoriented due to lack of legible landmarks or differentiated housing. This lack of way finding tools can hamper one's ability to produce a mental map of a subdivision. Perhaps it would be better to shape these areas into something reminiscent of their name. Oakdale would be shaped like an Oak and Shepherd point, a sheep.
"Drawn freehand directly on a computer and printed on an inkjet printer, my works do not contain photographs or scanned material.
The subjects of my recent work may be interpreted as models for planned communities as much as aerial views of fictional suburbs, referring to the dual role of the computer as a tool for urban planning as well as image capture. Examining the relation between design and actual lived experience, the works subvert the apparent rationality of urban design, exposing conflicts that lurk beneath the surface. Beyond the suburban example, these digital drawings are a way of thinking about design, the city and society as a whole." Ross Racine Artist Statement
