Week 2

07/12/2015-13/12/2015
Sculpture workshop part 2
Summary:

The main aim of this workshop was to look at the two themes Prosthetic and Parasitic, in my group we chose to focus on Prosthetic, focusing on several key words such as extension, addition, Hindrance, synthetic etc. We then decided that we wanted to focus on using metal as our main material as this was a more rigid hindering material. We chose to make a spherical cage like attachment to fit on top of a person’s head, a "Prosthetic" attachment for that persons head. We have now chosen to suspend the finished cage on a chain, so that passers by can walk into and insert their heads. We now see this as a secluded zone in which people can escape the break neck speed of the real world and have an enclosed area. To do this we are going to wrap the cage within a reflective material potentially aluminium foil, and insert a light source inside. Although I don’t personally like Barney’s work I find the concept of creating his own characters through sculpture which he then activates interesting. I want to sculpt my own costume engaging themes which interest me, I want to build on the wolf head imagery from my first unit and consider how I can visually convey my own personal fears in a 3D medium.

This was the second 3D workshop in which we were looking at using wood and steal, the main aim of this workshop was to look at the two themes Prosthetic and Parasitic; 

After considering these terms I have had a curious thought concerning parasitic; parasites are organisms which latch onto a host to draw food and nourishment from said host in order to grow and reproduce, such organisms are mosquitos or pathogens (viruses). However most mammals establish an equalibrity with their natural environment, yet humans seem to move to one settlement multiply until all resources are exhausted, then spread out to further settlements, therefore in a concerning way can humans be seen as a parasite?

Alternatively Prosthetic in my opinion would seem to be the simpler theme. Although it is still fairly interesting, I like the idea that a synthetic attachment can be added to the body, yet it does not have to aid it can hinder as well, yet a hindrance builds an appreciation for our natural capabilities. Furthermore, depending on how we choose to activate such objects, we can be forced to interact with our world in completely different ways, and therefore allows us to interpret the world in different ways. Yet we already interact with prosthetics (additions to our form) everyday, especially as a student for example, as a student I wear a rucksack everyday as an addition to myself and an aid.
We began by dividing into several groups of threes and fours, in these groups we brain stormed ideas surrounding these themes in our group we chose to focus on Prosthetic, focusing on several key words such as extension, addition, Hindrance, synthetic etc.

We then decided that we wanted to focus on using metal as our main material as this was a more rigid hindering material. Therefore we had an induction into welding using 6mm steal rods. below are photos of a simple shape I created in order to learn how to use the welding equipment.

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Below These are four preliminary sketches we made of the sculpture we wanted to make. we chose to make a spherical cage like attachment to fit on top of a persons head, a "Prosthetic" attachment for that persons head.

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After we decided to make a spherical cage we started by curving 3 metre length 6mm steal rods using a bending press, shown below, into 1 metre diameter circles which we would weld together later.

 

Below, these are the curved circles all held in place temporarily by masking tape.

we made a smaller circle which we will attach to the bottom of the cage so as to create a hole to wear the cage on our head, by resting it on our shoulders.

Below this is the main body of the sculpture welded in place.

This is the entire object welded together (fig.1) we now need to cut away the bas within the smaller circle so as to create an entrance, this will then be filed down so as to make the entrance safer for our necks to rest inside (fig.2-3-4).

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we soon found that more material would need to be removed before we could effectively file the surface own, therefore we used an angle grinder to cut the bars flush with the internal circle.

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Now that the circle has been cut flush we can effectively file the edges down, as seen below.

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Below this is the finished cage which we now have chosen to suspend on a chain from the ceiling of the workshop, so that passers by can simply walk into and insert their heads. The concept now has changed we now see this as a secluded zone in which people can escape the break neck speed of the real world and have an enclosed area for them to escape in. To do this we are going to wrap the cage within a reflective material potentially aluminium foil, and insert a light source inside.

 

Below is an example of another groups response to Prosthetic which I find very interesting, the concept is that this manikin like sculpture is intended to remove almost all of ones ability to move and interact within the world.

Below is a third groups response to Prosthetic the concept this time is another head cage which looks at oppressive forces within domestic environments.

 

Outside of the workshop I have continued research into the artist Mathew Barney, who's work does not interest me greatly however I have found a concept within his work which I do find intriguing.

Although I don’t personally like Barney’s work I find the concept of creating his own characters through sculpture which he then activates and gives life to later very interesting. I therefore want to design and sculpt my own mask/costume engaging themes which interest me, I want to build on the wolf head imagery from my first unit and consider how I can visually convey my own personal fears in a 3D medium.

such fears as:



·         Heights

·         Drowning

·         Loneliness

·         Harm befalling those I care for

·         Oblivion

·         Human capacity for violence-eventual and total collapse into chaos.

·         Unknown intentions.

I want to represent oblivion, by creating a demonic looking character which therefore has a Tran’s dimensional appearance. 

Unknown intentions-I think the only way to do this is to remove the eyes, without eyes one cannot perceive the intentions of others.

Chaos-through a chaotically assembled costume loose fixtures rough edges etc…

Harm on others-shown by giving this figure a dangerous and violent appearance.

I've now started to develop a character from several images I made in my first unit Ba1a. seen below:

 

Above this wolf based character has given me the idea to work around a combination of human and canine heads, preferably a snarling hounds face as this is more threatening. Furthermore the sketches below have given me the idea to work without facial features so that the character is expressionless therefore its intentions cannot be known which in my opinion is one of the scariest things, as a threatening character that cannot be understood is capable of great violence.

 

Below I started looking at combining a human head with a wolf skull, I thought the most effective way to do this was to merge the two creatures skulls, to create a foundation to build upon, therefore using Photoshop I have done just that as seen below.

 

Below I have drawn a simple line drawing based on the above image that I made using Photoshop. From this I'm now going to create a 3D model to resemble this character however I'm going to remove all facial features. to do this I want to use mod Roc as this will create a chaotic texture where strips overlap one another to create a single form.

Below I have documented work in progress, here I have started to make the costume, starting with the face of the mask, my idea is to create a sold facial mask, which is connected by crude stitches (chaos) to a hood of some form which will drape over the wearers head and shoulders. This may lead to a full costume. images 1  and 2 these are photos of the mod roc cast I made of my face, leaving gaps for my lips nostrils and eyes. I then worked onto this cast using plasticine to create he form and shape of the face, I started with the eyebrows so as to create large bridge like bone structures so as to emphasise the lack of the eyes, to increase the impact of this aspect. I then worked around the nose creating ripples in the flesh and a canine nose so that it looked like a snarling hound, once I was satisfied with the shape of the cheeks nose and eyebrows I layered more mod roc on top so as to seal the mask and maintain the chaotic texture of the layered mod roc strips. Finally I created large lips spreading from cheek to cheek which I sealed with the mod roc to remove the characters ability to talk, later I intend to add string in stitches like a voodoo doll sealing the lips ore dramatically as I have sketched in the image from unit ba1a.

 

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Below I have now begun to consider how to wear the mask, I have maintained the chaotic layered mod rc look by casting the top of my head, creating a solid hood, which I have then cut holes into so as to sew the two components together. However as both components are casts of my head they both fit flush to my skin meaning that I have to tweak one of the two pieces so that they can merge together without clashing. Furthermore I have used rough brown string to stitch in a crosshatch across the mouth, further exaggerating the fact that this is a mute sightless figure, who is incapable of communicating its intentions.

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Below overall I am not satisfied with my first design therefore I want to use the mod roc to its full potential by spreading the layers chaotically like a web across the side of the wearers head, furthermore, I want to impose a greater sense of morality, and a greater threatening domineer. Below I have designed a new version of the mask using Photoshop.