The “So Analog” series of resin sculptures is an interesting re-interpretation of classic technological icons we all once used and loved.
The idea behind this project was to create sculptures of old technologies that were once popular, but have since fallen to the wayside. It’s rare to see an artist’s original conceptual sketches – especially the ones that didn’t make the final cut – but Nate Mitchell shows us just that. Some of his scrapped ideas include a VHS tape, an old-style cellphone, an an 8-track tape.
In the end, he settled on a floppy disk, an NES cartridge, and a cassette tape – which I like more than the scrapped ideas, as all three of those featured largely in my childhood.
It’s also cool to see the CAD mock-ups of the final 3 figures, especially when you realize just how much some of them have changed – for example, the NES cartridge used to look very much like the original cartridge compared to the finished product.
The first resin castings show how much of a change the shape of the figures have taken since the beginning; the NES cartridge (10-Doh!) has undergone quite a change. He – and the other figures – look far more organic when finally cast in three dimensions, especially since they have an organic curve to their bodies that gives them an interesting personality.
The floppy disk is called A-Drive, and of course, he also looks very strange without painted-on features.
Eventually, the last figure – B-side the cassette tape – is cast in resin, showing how the figures look after being primered in grey and black.
The three figures look amazing when finished up with a bit of paint. A-Drive looks striking in black accentuated with the red of his label and the silver of his shutter and disk hub.
B-Side looks extermely retro with his blinding white paint job and dated label font. On him, the black limbs pop out the most; he looks ready to beat up an 8-track cartridge (as his kinsmen did back in the portable audio format wars of the 60s and 70s).
Finally, there’s my personal favourite, 10-Doh! For me, the best part of his design is the line of crooked “tracks” running down his body. While he looks a bit more subdued in colour scheme than the stark white B-Side and the shadowy A-Drive, the fact that the NES is not an obsolete system makes it more appealing.
All in all, it’s great to see the entire creative process from start to finish; it would be especially cool to see these come out as purchasable figurines.
If you’re looking to add a touch more of nostalgia in your life, check out the cassette wallet, the classic NES controller belt buckle, or grab yourself a set of floppy disk coasters.
