Final outcome reflection

Representing nature using mechanical and electrical components I have created a sculpture of a steampunk style fox leaping from the wall trailing wires and gears. The theme I chosen to use was stratification branching out from representing the layered development of mechanism and natures from skeletal muscles that work like pistons and an engine in place for a heart, rhythmically pulsing as is machinery had life and nature functioned like machinery. Using the physical layers to represent this, like flesh over muscle and muscle over bone. To achieve this I have created a sculpture of a fox using wire and fixing it to the wall so that it appears to be jumping out from it.

Process

·         materials: wire, insulated wire, metal gears, paper, metal rod, fine liner pens, wall bracket

Made by intertwining wire, I began using the thicker wire to create the structure as this can hold its shape much better, making it much better used for the structural components. I began by twisting the wire into the basic shape of a skull using the technique I had practiced earlier on the third mock final. The thicker wire was also used to create the spine, ribs, limb structure and bone outline. Following this I then used the thinner wire to secure the stronger wire, in addition to this I also used the thinner wire to encase and create a more three dimensional and opaque visage starting from the skull and spine, then the limbs. Then I began to add the insulated wire to represent the image of the fox’s muscular structure on the right side of the sculpture, on the left I used gears concentrated to specific areas such as the eye and joints. For the background I used an a2 piece of paper layered with another a2 sheet that had been ripped into triangular shapes and stuck to it pointing upward toward the centre, I then added the insulated wire and cogs on the sides corresponding to the fox, the cogs were focused to concentrated areas such as corners and the wire was used to boarder the top and sides. To fix the sculpture and the frame I used a wall bracket and a metal pole in which I used wire to fix the two, this allowed the outcome to be dismantle into three parts making it easier to put up, in which the bracket is screwed to the wall, the paper frame is then used to cover it, followed by the sculpture fixed to the metal rod. Additional wire was added to ensure security, in addition to the insulating wire form the fox to be secured to the frame.

Artist inspiration

The main inspiration for this outcome came from Elizabeth Berrien who uses wire to create sculptures of animals as this is the primary material I have used with the exception of including different types of wire, the secondary influence I have used is the artist mike Libby in which I was inspired to start adding steampunk elements into my art as he does while still keeping the nature of the organism. These artists are the major influences within my art as they most closely represent the style in which I have pursued and the materials I have used. In addition to these two I have used elements of other artists such as Andrew chase in which was considered for a major inspiration as he directly users mechanism and nature together, in addition to chase there are elements of the art of Hannah Hoch in which I have used paper and combined unrelated subjects.

Reflection

luckily there were no significant issues that could have put this project at risk, however there were still a few problems that caused a minor delay or inconvenience none the less, the main one being the cost of the materials as I could not be sure is I had enough of the materials I needed such as the insulating wire or the cogs as they had to be brought online, raising concerns for timing. they are also somewhat pricy. In addition to this I should have taken more care when handling the thicker wire as it is relatively sharp. In terms of the outcome itself there are some details in which I am not entirely satisfied such as some of the proportions, in addition I am not entirely sure if the additional layer of insulating wire worked as intended as it does not define the muscular system rather than just create a background for the gears. However, I do believe I have achieved the desired effect with this outcome in representing stratification through the use of various overlapping elements and the jump from a 2D surface into the room itself, representing the stratification of mechanism and biology using surrealism to combine the elements in a fantasy/steampunk genre.