Month: April 2017

3D Final Assignment – CDL (research)

ELISA STROZYK

I came across Elisa Strozyk because of her interesting use of wood as textile and her ability to make wood look like fabric from the folds created which creates sort of a softness to wood which is known to be quite rigid. It resembles crushed paper to me too.

It looks and smells familiar but feels strange, as it is able to move and form in unexpected ways.

The processes to transform wood into a flexible wooden surface is its deconstruction into pieces, which are then attached to a textile base. Depending on the geometry and size of the tiles each design shows a different behaviour regarding flexibility and mobility.

I tried modifying her technique and use wire mesh instead of cloth to follow the CDL brief as the materials used must be durable as it is an outdoor structure. Also, a crushed paper ball has an irregular shapes from where the paper bends, I cut the basswood into irregular geometric shapes similar to those on the paper.

Then, I hot glued gun the flat surfaces onto the mesh and arranged the so that it would fit and create folds so that I would be able to fold it into a ball. 

However, after completing a section, the mesh was too stiff to bend and maybe I did not leave enough spacing in between the wood for the metal to bend so I scrapped using this technique. This whole project is quite trial and error based as it is my first time using wood.

 

3D Final assignment – CDL (research)

I wanted to do the lotus flower sculpture but Peter said it was quite boring on the form and it was true so I reverted back to my trash ball idea. 

I found some interesting sculptures that played with geometrics shapes and lines.

Helen Stewart

Tracy Featherstone

First sketch of the geometric trash ball on the left and second sketch on the right.

Third sketch.

Sample model made out of styrofoam.

After making the sample model, I felt that even though the form was interesting, the whole design looked rather convoluted and did not really suit this project. So it is back to brainstorming again but I have decided to retain that geometric feature which I think would work really well with wood.

All that Glitters is not Gold – Unpredictability Final

I made a gold, diamond shaped piñata and hung it outside of ADM on a tree next to the roadside. My classmates are in for a surprise as I have placed a mixture of confetti, glitter and fake insects inside of it. The confetti was taken from party poppers and it was quite nerve wrecking to remove it and there was no rationality to buying party poppers as confetti which can be bought separately.

To make the geometric shape of the piñata, I used cardboard and cut out 5 pentagon shapes. Then I measured 15cm from the flat base and scored the inside of the cardboard so I was able to bend it. After the bend, the excess cardboard was trimmed away so the 5 ends could connect to form a tip like a diamond shape.

After pouring in my secret mixture into the diamond, I started my paper mache which is the traditional ways of making a piñata. The first layer I tried was PVA glue and newspaper but it did not create a ultra strong layer so I changed the PVA to flour and water which created a harden first layer. I did about 4-6 layers per side, including the top too. The cut gold foil paper into square shapes and pasted it all around to cover the paper mache.

LET THE FUN AND CHAOS BEGIN.

It is normal for the piñata to fall onto the ground and to the surprise of many, it took a lot of strength to break apart the piñata. 

ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD

After compiling the responses from friends and classmates, I wanted to use their preconceived idea and twist it so that it becomes unpredictable. The piñata is Unpredictability as we view it as an unassuming, innocent object and as always in it is a pleasant surprise. Unpredictability has a negative connotation to it whereby it is volatile in nature and it means change which most of us prefer familiarity instead of the unknown. The change from Unpredictability is inevitable itself and forces one to accept the change or adapt. But Unpredictability can lead to beautiful things. One example are relationships whereby it is beautiful yet it is change to an individual’s lifestyle.

Hence, the piñata is the perfect symbolism of Unpredictability. It is something we see and recognise and may seem beautiful, pleasant on the outside but it is the inside that we cannot predict or know – Unpredictable. When breaking apart the piñata, the motion itself is chaotic but through the midst of this chaos, there is a catharsis. Among the glitter are insects which no one expected and it is the individual’s choice to deem that as good or bad. Therefore, adapting to the unpredictability of it.

Unpredictability – Research

I consulted Peter and he advised me to try and try to brainstorm more because he said that Tarot cards are already known to be unpredictable. So back to the brainstorming.

However, this time I decided to ask my friends and classmates what does Unpredictability mean to them. Because my main concern was that Unpredictability was subjective which it is and so I needed a new perspective from other people to at least narrow down my options.

The words with > beside them are the definitions from friends, classmates and myself.

I came across Deep Sea Sand Art on Pinterest and I was intrigued by it because it was mesmerising and yet unpredictable because there is no knowledge of what design will  be form. From that, I decided I wanted to make something mesmerising but it tricks the audience into believing their original notion of that idea and not think further into it. 

Thus, I decided to make a piñata. But with a TWIST. Every child or most children would have interacted with one at birthday parties, they are introduced and brought up with the idea that piñatas are filled with sweets, confetti and happy things.

So playing with this idea of their preconceived notion of what a piñata is, I’ve decided to include fake insects and glitter inside the piñata.

Assignment 2 – Unpredictability

First day when I found out my topic was Unpredictability, I freaked out a bit because I had no idea what I wanted to show and the term itself could mean so many things. I even joked about doing something similar to Marina Abramovic’s Rhythm 10 whereby she lays out 10 knifes and plunges each one of them quickly into the space between her finger. 

I switch on the first cassette recorder. I take the knife and plunge it, as fast as I can, into the flesh between the outstretched fingers of my left hand. After each cut, I change to a different knife. Once all the knives (all the rhythms) have been used, I rewind the tape. I listen to the recording of the first performance. I concentrate. I repeat the first part of the performance. I pick up the knives in the same sequence, adhere to the same rhythm and cut myself in the same places. In this performance, the mistakes of the past and those of the present are synchronous. I rewind the same tape and listen to the dual rhythm of the knives. I leave.

Then Peter commented why do that when I already did that last sem and at first I did not understand then I realised he meant because I sliced my finger open 🙁 Sigh. 

Ok but I started brainstorming and came out with a few ideas from the dictionary definition of Unpredictability.

I planned on using the concept of Tarot cards bc they’re known to be unpredictable when it comes to knowing your future but at the same time they are predictable as someone reads that future, thus predicting. The tarot cards would be a modern day version which shows different desires on it and similar to the traditional tarot card, the person wanting their future read has to transfer their energy on to the cards by placing their hands above the cards and selects the one that “speaks” to them.

4D Final Assignment – Installation Day

My installation was held in the Cinema Room at the Library and because the library only opens at 8.30am, I could only set up on the day itself.

This is how the whole set up looks under lighted conditions.

The film projected onto the fabric in lighted conditions.

The type of fabric used was a papery, translucent material.

The 3 layers of fabrics strips together.

I strung the strips together in one line. Using binder clips, I attached them to the wall with duct tape so I could tie the string onto the clip’s handle. All 3 strings are attached to one binder clip per side.

Flower petals lining the floor underneath the strips of fabrics.

Projection of the film onto the fabric in complete darkness. The flower petals can still be seen by the eye even in the dark due to the light from the film but I could not capture it in photo.

This is the film looped and played on the projection.

The installation with the film and sound played.

Just Be.

(Artist statement)

Just be focuses on memories holding people back and are unable to move forward. It forces them to undergo a self-reflection journey which explores vulnerability that occurs when adapting to change and how one reacts to a new beginning. This emphasises the influence memories and past has had on individuals and believe that they are defined by them. However, Just Be encourages individuals to define themselves by moving forward.

This is about embracing and just being yourself. The installation has left the past 2 projects behind but there are still hints of the past that are not the main emphasis in this set up. However, it represents the events that I have experienced. (Past: the flower petals where after performances, ballet dancers are usually gifted with flowers as a form of compliment and gratuity; The fabric strips alludes to the ribbon laces of the point shoes or the the layers of the tutu as seen in the 2nd project; The audio and film from the 1st project). 

The roughly cut strips of fabric represents the fragmentations of self and hardship faced but when all the strips are hung together they act as a curtain to reveal our vulnerable self. Vulnerability is shown when the layers are peeled back to show just a blank projector screen which is a blank slate but also a new beginning. Together with the film which depicts sunshine, it is a catharsis which was mentioned in Project 1 . In this case, it is the journey of self which the installation is supposed to encourage. The petals represents the sweetness of life as one begins to define he or she is and signifies the breaking of the barrier of the past that is holding one back.

4D Final Assignment (Installation layout)

Installation

Location: Cinema Room

I am still having my installation at the Cinema Room due to the maximum darkness that can only be achieved in there.

Strips of fabrics will be hung in the middle of the projector screen. Flower petals are sprinkled at the bottom of the fabrics. The film will be projected on to the strips of fabrics. It will show the sunlight that I captured from the first film will be played on loop with the soundtrack of the nature soundscape that has been used in my other 2 projects.

The cloth used will be translucent and there will be 3 layers. The first and topmost layer will be the first layer and the subsequent layers will be hung behind.

The strips of fabrics will be about 50 cm in front of the projector screen.

4D Final Assignment (Research 2)

I’m still quite unsatisfied with the current layout because from my previous 2 projects, I have actually moved on from those ideas/ “burnt” them away especially in project 2 which means I am leaving the past behind and not looking back. Hence, I do not feel that current layout is moving towards the direction I wanted and as the catchphrase goes “Two steps forward, one step back” which doesn’t seem to make sense to me. 

So time for more inspiration again.

I was watching Ghost in the Shell and there was one scene at the end where Aramaki kills Cutter, the villian (apologies for spoiling the movie if you have not watched it) and it really spoke to me. I viewed it in a very symbolic way whereby the main character major, is finally released from her past too but the part that I was extremely inspired by was the part where Cutter is killed and falls into the water. Like the chinese idiom “水落石出”, I saw it in as a way of as the truth being revealed and water acting as a form of purification as the water envelope him. (I actually said DAYUM when I saw that scene + apologies for the horrible quality of the scene) 

Another inspiration I found was from the fashion label, COS. It was created by a New York studio, Snarkitecture. Designers Daniel Arsham and Alex Mustonen used lengths of white fabrics to create the installation in Milan. COS gave the designers complete freedom to design an engaging space for visitors and an environment to present its current apparel range for Spring/Summer 2015.

They filled the space with white fabric strips, suspended from the ceiling, then cut away some of the lower sections to create tunnels and spaces through the fabrics. Visitors walk through a curtain of the strips to enter the space, and can then choose to follow the path created by the shorter lengths or pull aside the longer sections to cut through the spaces.

I am fascinated by the fabric interacts with the space and also how the audience are allowed to choose their paths which to me represented their own decisions. The vastness of it and how it envelopes you was mesmerising and compelling for inner thoughts/ reflections. The whiteness of it represented as a blank slate to me and purity and the whole thing just evoked some sort of reinvigoration in me.