3D Assignment 2 – sugarmonster

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.