POSTCARDS FROM MEXICO

A digital response to a scanned Aztec mask in the Nation Museum of Wales, Cardiff. Exhibited as part of a Digital Intervention dealing with 3D scans of various artefacts and curated by Sarah Younan. Download a playable version of the Postcards from Mexico game Mac: bit.ly/1sM1DzA PC: bit.ly/1kd7JoI Four ‘postcards’ represent the output of this project, which began as a response to digitised 3D scans of various objects from the archive of the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff. I found instant affinity with an Aztec mask. The 3D scans were incredibly detailed and offered the opportunity for the file to be enlarged to the scale of a landscape. The 3D wire mesh file was imported into a games development suite which was then used to create an interactive landscape based on the face of the mask. The Eyes and mouth became canyons and the nose developed into an unreachable peak. The landscape was textured and decorated with inspiration from a recent trip to Mexico. Clichéd game objects were added, such as ammo crates, barbed wire and watchtowers. These textbook game objects help explore the issue of Mexico as a country with both border and political issues. Four screenshots were taken and are presented as ‘postcards’. The exhibition features a recorded play through of the game and viewers are invited to download their own copy to play.