Immersive Storytelling Through Rich 3D Environments
The Alley
This 3D piece is set in post-liberation Paris during WWII, capturing a scene that has endured light combat and the presence of French resistance fighters. I built the environment from scratch in Maya, applying detailed textures through Substance Painter to enhance realism. The tattered flags and truck canvas were brought to life using cloth simulations, where I applied Transform Constraints, gravity, and wind effects. For the posters, I employed similar cloth simulations, adding a layer of authenticity by simulating tears with Tearable Surface vertices. The final images were rendered using Iray, bringing the scene's gritty realism to life.
Created with: Autodesk Maya, Substance Painter
The Attic
In collaboration with Holocaust survivor Henry Friedman, this 3D piece faithfully reconstructs the attic in Suchowola, Poland (now Ukraine), where he and his family hid for nearly 18 months during WWII. Trapped between the Germans and the Ukrainian terrorist group known as the Banderas, they survived in a space no larger than a queen-sized mattress. Unable to stand, the family could only sit or lie down. This scene also honors the bravery of Mary and Ivan Symchuck and their daughter Julia, who risked their lives to save the Friedman family, even rescuing Henry’s father from the Gestapo.
Created with: Autodesk Maya, Substance Painter, Sketchfab
The Bunker
When bombing began in September 1939, thousands of Londoners sought refuge in the Underground network, prompting the city to develop specialized deep-level shelters to protect civilians and government officials. Construction of these shelters began in 1940 and was completed two years later. The tunnels, designed to be approximately 16.5 feet wide and nearly 1,200 feet long, were intended to include two levels for medical stations, kitchens, sleeping quarters, and sanitation areas. Initially planned to accommodate around 9,600 people per shelter, the actual capacity was closer to 8,000, with only 8 of the 10 bunkers reaching completion. When bombing intensified again in 1944 during the Allies' invasion of Germany, five of these shelters were opened to the public.
The station I've created here represents one of the public Underground stations that inspired this deep-level shelter project. View the live model here: https://skfb.ly/owzQy.
Created with: Autodesk Maya, Substance Painter, Sketchfab
