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
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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.
