Summer Project (MIAD)
Monstrous
101cm x 49cm x 31cm Paper and adhesive July 2021 This all paper sculpture was inspired by what I find beautiful. I think of beauty as what intrigues me about them. So combining my interest for wearable art and the creatures from Alien. The monsters by H.R. Giger are mechanical yet organic at the same time with their structure. This contrast piques my curiosity, it is very different, but still works. With the vile creates strange beauty and my interest in wearable art I created a sculpture that shows what I think is "beautiful". |
Inspiration
My two main inspirations were wearable art in general, and the form of the Queen Alien. I have always enjoyed fashion, so wearable art and sculptures is something that really speaks to me as an artist. I think that they have a presence to them that is amplified in the context of the setting and who is wearing it. Wearable art often is made of mixed media and is some form of a sculpture. They also often include distortions or extensions to the human form.
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With my research with the Aliens I mostly looked at the form and took ideas from it. The rigid sharpness of the body, and the organic patterns all over it are things that catch my eye when looking at the creatures. These features standout to me because the contrast of them and how disturbing they look. To me these monsters have a deadly and ugly elegance to them. The thin sharp lines in their form look dainty, but the rest of them show how monstrous they really are.
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I took a lot of ideas from Joanna Peacock and their work from the World of WearableArt (WOW), and specifically their 2015 contest entries and the Candy Colour collection. The works from the 2015 collection, To Be or Not to Be, dives into the relationship between bees and humans, as well as their impact on each other in the natural world. These works have so much texture and and are structurally interesting. I find the use of material to be very captivating as well. Then with Candy Colour the simplicity of the outfits makes the color and material pop. The headpieces also stood out as something out of this world like, reminding me of Alien. Another thing I enjoyed about this collection is the black outfit and how it is androgynous, can be worn by anyone.
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Planning
First I wrote down all the "Big Ideas" for this work, or what I wanted to include and achieve. Then underneath that I wrote down ways I could physically make my idea. (Notes) I then sketched out my ideas to narrow down my thoughts. At this point in my thinking process I had already decided on using the Alien in some way, but after sketching out my ideas I decided on also doing a wearable work. Since the creatures have such a distinguishable head I originally wanted to incorporate that in some way. In some adaptations of the Alien it has a clear head. This was interesting to me, as well as the idea to fill the head with something other than organs. I also explored the idea of doing the massive and recognizable Queen Alien head. These ideas both utilized the human form as a base to build the sculpture off of. As I planned more I found it increasingly difficult to find a way to construct the headpieces, so I decided against them. |
I then made up my mind to make an outfit that embodies the Aliens as a whole. I wanted to use lots of texture that was similar to the Alien. As well as incorporate the versatility of the black outfit from Peacock's Candy Colour, and how it can be worn by all.
I drew up my final idea (final sketch). I then planned out my own pattern to use for the bodice, sleeves, spikes and train (pattern). |
Experimentation
My original thinking with this work was to create a fabric outfit, but I did not have access to the materials, so instead I used paper. I have worked with fabric and have made clothes before, so I understand how fabric flows, but paper is completely different. I have not worked with paper in this way before, so the medium was a huge learning curve for me. The paper often did not bend in the way I anticipated and, of course, did not flow like fabric. Learning how to manipulate the paper was an experimentation in itself. So to the right here is one of my mock models I used to plan out how to fold the real thing. |
Process
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The Bodice-
From my own pattern I measured my mannequin to get the correct size. After that I cut out the two front pieces and the two back pieces that complete the whole form. After cutting them out I had to problem solve on how to get the panels to flow around the bodice correctly. I wanted to keep the general idea of a suit, but I still wanted the paper to look similar to paper. I also liked how the obscured the form became because of this. I started practicing on scrap paper to get the places for the folds I wanted. These folds give the bodice some shape, but the outfit itself is neutral and androgynous, as to anyone can wear it. When all of the panels were folded and creased I taped and glue them together to finish the bodice. |
The sleeves- One again using my own pattern I cut out the sleeve. I then experimented with how to make the sharp fold at the top of the sleeve to make a more stark and geometric look. I also wanted to add more height to the shoulders to blur who the intend wearer is. Here I also added light gray embellishments to the front paneling and the cuffs of the sleeves. I made two large rectangles and two smaller ones for the embellishments. I made them off of extensions from the already formed collar |
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The Train-
The train is made out of pleated sheets of paper. I created them with a ruler, folding every 1 inch then 2 inch, interchanging the direction of the fold. I decided on making the pleats this way to add a classic undertone to this that reads as nostalgic, but also modern with its angles. I made 5 sheets of the pleats, but only used 3 of them. One smaller one, which was bunch at the top to add a taper to the train. I then added the two other layers with adhesive. Here I wanted something feminine, but also masculine that would compliment the sharp blazer. I made the cones for the spikes and ripped up some of the textured paper to hide the seam of the train and the bodice. The texture reminded me so much of the holey organic texture seen in the movies in the Aliens' "nests" and where they start to take over. |
Reflection
With this work I made a sculpture that reflects what I find beautiful. It is weird and slightly ugly, but I still find it interesting and beautiful. With that idea in mind though out the creation of this piece I wanted to make everything precise, but still be free form and express the overall oddity of it. This connects back to my inspiration and Peacock's intriguing use of material, subject matter, and form. I also like their use of interchangeability with models who wear the clothes, there is no set person to wear them.
I originally planned on using fabric for the whole project, but that was out of my budget and time frame. so that is why I had settled with paper instead. But I think I like this outcome more than if it was fabric. I learned how to work with fabric in a way I have never before and broadened my skills with the medium and problem solving. The end product has an unusual shape to the bodice, but I like that because is give a little mystery of what is underneath. One thing I would change what what I used to hold it together. Soon after I finished the sculpture it fell apart due to the heat, but also the little stickiness the tape had. |
Critique
Similarities:
-They are both sculptures that in the form of wearable art -Have a very specific subject matter they represent, bees in Peacock's and Aliens in mine, to showcase a larger idea/theme. -Both have an other worldly look to them, with some of the parts being recognizable, Peacock's work with its familiar insect and mine with the identifiable form of the blazer. Differences: -The material and the qualities of the material, Peacock's is very ornate and shiny, mine is minimalistic, monotone, and matte. -Subject matter is contrasting, Peacock's is about nature and its interaction with humans, while mine is about my personal idea of beauty. -Mine has a strong look of femininity and masculinity, while Peacock's has a look of femininity primarily. |
ACT Responses
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Bibliography
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1) Clearly explain and describe how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork.
Peacock's work inspired my own, this was done by their take on wearable art, which gave me the idea to do some thing similar. 2) What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration? The author of Peacock's website was very positive about their work, and gives a different perspective of the art pieces. 3) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration? I have found out that there is a whole world of people who enjoy making art work that is built off the human body. I discovered this with the World of Wearableart. 4) What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research? Beauty and art that is around the human form. 5) What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research? There is so much more to sculpture then just a work standing on its own, but how it interacts with the space and the people who view it. |
ifuun. Design Techniques—Specific Use of Threads in Fashion Design. Dec. 2019, www.ifuun.com/a2018121817583208/.
Mega Dinosaurs. XENOMORPH Size Comparison . Youtube, 14 May 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPcztaJGSw0. N/A. “World of Wearableart (WOW).” WOW - World of WearableArt | The World of WearableArt (WOW) Show Is New Zealand's Single Largest Theatrical Production. The World of WearableArt Competition Is the Worlds Leading Wearable Art Competition Attracting Entries from around 40 Countries, 6 Apr. 2021, www.worldofwearableart.com/. NA. “NECA - Aliens - Xenomorph Queen Ultra Deluxe Boxed Action Figure.” Amazon, www.amazon.com/NECA-Aliens-Xenomorph-Deluxe-Action/dp/B00LK4BWUC. Peacock, Joanna. “Costumes - To Be or Not To Be.” Jo Peacock, n.d., joannapeacock.com/to-be-or-not-to-be/. Peacock, Joanna. “Costumes - Candy Colour.” Jo Peacock, n.d., joannapeacock.com/to-be-or-not-to-be/. |