SHADOW CHESS
Personal Work | Individual Work
Year: 2022 Type: Sculpture, Board Game
Never let a shadow cast over the King!
In the game of chess, the value of pieces is determined by their relationship to other pieces. As a standalone object, a chess piece has no inherent meaning. The same principle applies to a buildings. A building cannot exist in isolation; its precense in a specific location impacts its surroundings, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
For instance, many people naturally high floors with spectacular views. However, tall buildings inevitably cast wide shadows behind them. While these buildings were not designed with intention of creating large shadows, can we still say they are not selfish?
The Game of Shadow
‘Shadow chess’ is a chess game of shadows. The opponent’s piece is captured when the shadow is cast on it. The main goal of this game is to cast larger shadows on the opponent’s piece, while casting smaller shadows on my piece at the same time.
Since light and shadow are essential for ‘Shadow Chess’, you need a fixed light source as well as chess pieces and a board.
The light source is fixed in the middle of both sides, casting same amount of shadow over both sides.
The ratio of the height of the piece to the length of the shadow is 1:2.
You can capture the opponent’s piece by casting a shadow completely over it.
Since light and shadow are essential for ‘Shadow Chess’, you need a fixed light source as well as chess pieces and a board.
The Food Chain of Pieces
Since the only way to capture the opponent’s piece is to completely shade it, the same pieces cannot capture each other and smaller ones cannot capture bigger ones. Also, the King is bound to be the smallest piece because all the other pieces must be able to capture it.
Thus, the food chain of pieces is as follows; Queen > Bishop > Knight > Rook > Pawn > King.
The maximum height and volume of the pieces are determined by the angle of the fixed light source.
As the King is the smallest and most vulnerable piece, the King stands for the park, just like a small park in the middle of buildings.
The height of some squares have been adjusted to ensure that all pieces are well illuminated at the starting position. Not all squares have equal value, just as city does.
Thus, the food chain of pieces is as follows; Queen > Bishop > Knight > Rook > Pawn > King.
Shadow Carving
All pieces are created in the goal of casting both biggest amd smallest shadows in the limit of maximum height and volume.
Selfish and Altruistic Move
The shadow varies depending on which orientation the piece is placed. By rotating pieces, you have to create altruistic shadows on your side, while creating selfish and deadly shadows on the opponent’s side.
Thus, never let a shadow cast over the King!
Thus, never let a shadow cast over the King!
The City, the sum of enthusiastic attempt to build the best building under given conditions, is not a place where everyone can smile. An attempt to make the best of the given condition may cause harm to someone. Buildings should be altruistic; they should make not only the people inside but also the people outside feel good. In a city full of such buildings, it would be the place much more people can smile :)