Cody Healey-Conelly
Cody Healey-Conelly is a New York City artist who spends his days (literally) turning trash into treasure. From one visit to his Instagram page, @syntheticlives, you’re taken to the streets of NYC where he uses Trnio to scan piles of trash in various neighborhoods. He then uses a technique known as projection mapping to really bring his art to life. Traditionally, projection mapping means using an actual projector to project light and pictures onto actual real life surfaces, but Cody has found a way to digitize this process with the help of Trnio.
When Cody is booked for various art exhibitions, he usually has about 2 hours to set up his entire display. He explained that this made for a time crunch, as lining up the projected image with the physical art piece was essentially the creation of the piece itself and took a lot of attention to detail. However, with Trnio, he was able to transition this process into a virtual setting. His new process is to 3D scan the object that acts as the base for the projection, which then allows him to virtually project his videos and animations onto the digital model. This transition not only made it easier for him to set up at art exhibitions, but also made it easier for him to share his work through online platforms.
Although this change in process is a huge plus for him, it is not the only reason Cody likes to use Trnio for his projects. He explained that he loves Trnio because he is able to use it on the go. Most other scanners require a studio setting to get the perfect scan, but due to the nature of Cody’s art, that’s not very practical. Because he likes to scan things he sees on the street or in the spur of the moment, he needs a tool like Trnio to be quick and available right when he needs it. Check out some of the awesome animations Cody has done with Trnio:
Cody also explained that creating 3D art from trash and other random things he finds on the street has a deeper artistic meaning for him. He said that scanning trash he finds really makes a statement on New York City itself, especially in the disparity of the socio-economic statuses of different neighborhoods. He explained that there are such things as “good” and “bad” trash piles - meaning that what people actually toss in the trash can tell a lot about them. He also noted that scanning trash helps his green initiative. He aims to use no new materials, only things that have already been used or recycled for an alternative purpose.
The final reason that Cody loves Trnio is because of its’ ability to capture a slice of time. Many people love this about Trnio, because the 3D models it creates amount to so much more than just a photograph. As Cody’s work shows, Trnio can be used to capture the pure essence of an object or scene on its own, but it can also be used as a creative tool that is part of a larger process. He does a great job of utilizing Trnio to its full potential and we thank him for sharing his creative process with us!