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If you are a sci-fi movie buff who loves movies that involve the earth, space, and the whole universe, then you must have watched ¡°Moonfall¡± featuring top Hollywood stars such as Bond girl - Halle Berry, Insidious¡¯ Patrick Wilson, Game of Throne¡¯s John Bradley and many more!

But did you know that our very own ÎåÒ»³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø¡¯s lecturer played a small role in this movie¡¯s premiere in Malaysia? Well, not as an actor but as an artist.

Dennis Wong Chee Dee, Assistant Professor from De Institute of Creative Arts and Design(ICAD), ÎåÒ»³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø University was approached by a creative advertising company to do yet another art for a movie premier showcase at two of the biggest malls in Malaysia ¨C GSC 1 Utama and GSC Mid Valley Megamall. The first involvement was back in 2015 when 12 students from his class were to create 12 figurines of monsters that were featured in the movie, ¡°Goosebumps¡±. The figurines were then displayed at TGV, Sunway Pyramid.

The very next year, Wong was approached again to have his students cum proteges create 10 head sculptures of the characters from the movie ¡°Underworld¡± in 2016, which were displayed at GSC Pavillion.

Time flew by, and little did we know that was not the last until recently he received another gig but this time it was a one man¡¯s job and that specifically requested Dennis¡¯s expertise in creating two big 3D sculptures of a moon to symbolise the blockbuster movie, ¡°Moonfall¡±. Let¡¯s read on to find out more about 3D sculptures!

What is a 3D sculpture?

The 3D sculpture is one of the most ancient and well-preserved art throughout history. For instance, the Chinese Terracotta Army, a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of the First Emperor of China, is one of the oldest sculptures in the world.

What was the biggest challenge in creating this sculpture? 

Since these were two moon sculptures of 4ft diameter each, I had to do my research on the moon to ensure I have the correct resources. The texture on the moon is both rough and smooth, I needed to know how to form its craters and the colour palette which consists of white, grey and black. It may seem like it was a straightforward creation but, it was very complex since I was only provided with two big sphere-shaped Styrofoam, to begin with. Plus, these styrofoams were so big that I had difficulties transporting them around the campus and to the cinemas.

How was the process?

It started with the skeleton of the sculpture before the clay is added to form the shape. Then, proceeded with the deduction of the clay to refine and create the fine details. Hence why it is very important to pay attention to the anatomy of the moon. Overall, it took me about 8 days and nights to complete both sculptures.

How do you think 3D sculptures impacted the public?

The art impacts the artist and designers more than the general public. The shape, texture and colours are vital in designing to create the look and feel of the art. When I sculpted the moon, I had to ensure the tactile texture is reflected correctly based on my research. I needed to paint the shadows, highlights and gradients using black, grey and white to create the surface of the moon. All of these will matter to the artists.

What is the most important aspect of creative art?

An artist needs to be self-expressive through visual elements as we don¡¯t write but we create, and perfection does not exist. However, we should always aim for a higher standard.

What is your advice to your students at ICAD?

Love and be persistent in what you do. Don¡¯t ever give up and limit yourself as you need to be ready to try different things outside of your comfort zone and take it as a challenge to create beautiful and beneficial art. It is essential to create your own unique and original style without replicating something common that is already made out there.