Project Overview - 项目概览
After nearly 6 months of work, the world of The Plague was born. This is my concept art project that includes two major parts: environment and character. The project was accomplished by the method of 2+3D and matte painting and was empowered by creativity. The story is given on a city called "Furawau", a fictional European city by the ocean. Any similarities are coincidental.
在耗时6个月的制作后，我完成了我的个人概念设计《瘟疫之城》。该设计包含场景和人物两个部分，并采用了2+3D及数字绘景的创造手法。本故事发生在欧洲地中海边一个叫Furawau的虚构城市，如有雷同，纯属巧合。
Inspirations - 灵感来源
The project was inspired by various film and television works such as "La Peste" and "The North Water". Also, it was inspired by video games such as the "Dishonored" series and the "Bioshock" series.
该作品灵感来源于诸多影视游戏作品，例如：《黑死病》及《北海鲸梦》；游戏《耻辱》系列以及《生化奇兵》系列。
Furawau, due to its geographical advantage, was one of the most popular trading cities around the world. For hundreds of years, it was crowded with merchants, companies, sailors, and ships. The city was an autonomous city-state under the name of the empire. Although it was coveted by various forces. But the capitalists in the council managed to maintain peace by gold and all kinds of exotic goods until rats that carried the plague slipped into the city.
As the church's power kept growing with the support of superstitious civilians and the empire, a civil war between the church and the capitalists came together with the plague. The capitalists failed and fled after the church usurped the authority by force. Soon, the church ordered a massive lockdown to strengthen its power and some people who supported the church realized they were betrayed. Furawau is experiencing the panic of famine and pandemic, and the city becomes fragile and all glorious days are gone.
However, where there is oppression, there is resistance. Those capitalists who refused to flee started a riot with hungry and despairing civilians. Some of them are fighting for property, some are fighting for freedom, but most people are fighting for their own interests and resources to survive.
World
The world of Furawau
"Ocean, Decay, Theocracy, Ill, Conflict"
On the streets, corpses are exposed and waiting for somebody to collect and burn, and shops that are not sealed got looted by hungry people. However, if you are wealthy enough to hire some mobsters for protection, you might still be able to sit in your office and even have a cup of tea, watching the evils out of the windows and listening to a phonograph.
The church builds quarantine detentions for ill or suspected patients. The most famous one is called "Riverbed". As a reflection of its name, it is built on the bottom of a dry canal. Patients will be sent into those shanties and wait for their destiny. Under the torture of awful sanitary conditions and starvation, nobody can last longer than two weeks. There are always people who resist being arrested and sent to quarantine, these people will be executed by the gendarme and their bodies will be hanged together with opponents.
Shortly after the church took charge of the city, the town hall became a restricted area. The rebels had some conflicts with the gendarme but they were stopped by roadblocks and well-defenced gate. The council room stands as before, but there is no more discussion and democracy. Every decision is made by the bishop under the name of God.
Furawau is based on a building style that presents a mixture of Victorian, Steampunk, and Baroque. The technology of this world is around 19 century in the middle of the industrial revolution. The upper class is enjoying the profits from colonies and squeezing every last drop of labor, and the lower class works intensively and expects miracles.
Furawau is a city of a variety of ethnic groups. The upper class likes to decorate their fine-tailored clothes with distinctive patterns. Blue represents the color of power and authority, while red is favored by people who chase after fortunes.
Priest: After the church took the power, these people who made their oath to serve the god turned into different roles in the new government. Some of them still adhere to the ethical bottom line, but most of them are obsessed with the power they never had before.
Capitalist: Before the civil war, they were the rulers of Furawau. But now, most of them fled. Those who refused to give up their property or remain a sense of integrity stay and they are organizing a strike back to reclaim their sovereignty.
Gendarme: These people are formed by formal police officers, local mobs, and opportunists. After the council lost the civil war, they surrendered to the church. With the weapon support from the empire, Gendarme was built. Now, they are the true villains and help the church to wipe out opponents.
Plague doctor: The plague doctors are more like political weapons compared with their duties as doctors. These people are in charge of identifying ill or suspected patients and sending them to quarantine, other than treating patients. The classic beak mask plays as a symbol of theocracy.
Character
The world of Furawau
"Ambition and personal interests"
