3D Design: 'Enclosure' Brief part 2.

After developing my first two responses, I worked on constructing a further 3. I struggled with the wire when trying to keep it straight, and so started to experiment with different materials as well as different shapes when looking at ways of responding. I found some double sided card (white on one side and grey on the other) and thought the contrast was really interesting. I planned out different techniques in my sketchbook, like hole punching and gold eyelet detailing, and started to construct my first spherical cage.

I used staples to fix the card in place. The finished response was surprisingly strong! I was very happy with the strength and look of this response. I moved on and started experimenting with more materials, paper, canvas, plastic coated wires etc... I wanted to create a very colourful piece to contrast with the previous one. I took pictures as I put it together to show the layering of different materials, like the hidden canvas I tried out on the inside! 

For my third and final structure, I decided to risk using the wire again! I thought it would be easier to bend into a circular shape than keep it straight. Alone it looked boring, so I wove green thread round it. I loved the contrast of colours and also the straight angles created within this circular shape. It looked really interesting! 

...and here is all 3 displayed together! Overall this task has been fairly beneficial, I enjoyed working into and developing my responses, and looking at all the possibilities that come from one word! I'm happy with my structures, however if I had more time I would have tried to suspend them (cubes and spheres) or display them in some other way. 

3D Design: 'Enclosure' Brief.

After being split into groups, we were given a word which we were to generate thoughts and ideas around, and eventually create 3D responses to. We were given the word 'Enclosure'. Straight away I recognised this was a really nice word to work around. Starting with a mind map, we came up with different areas relating to 'Enclosure', for example...

• Cage/Box
• Clothing
• Transport
• Housing/Ships/Rooms...
• Shapes, Circles
• Phobia, Claustrophobia/Agoraphobia  

After watching demonstrations of paper folding techniques, I decided to try out different methods and see if the material was suitable for 3D construction. I decided on using paper for my response, and using a traditional 'cube' layout to construct it. However, I wanted to make the box more cage like, so used cut outs to make it look how I imagined.

After creating this response, I wanted to make a similar object but with different materials. I had not yet worked structuring and welding wire so I decided to do that. After planning/refining ideas in my sketchbook I got to work creating the structure. I found the wire quite difficult to keep straight, and I struggled with incorporating different materials. I'm happy with my responses so far, and if I had more time would have used fish wire to suspend one cage within the other. 

3D Design: Making/Connecting Tubes.

The challenge was to make two tubes, with a hole in either side/can be connected in some way. After looking through some examples of artists work I decided I wanted to create something similar to Eva Hesse's work. Her sculptures (particularly the strand/rope like ones) have a really natural/organic feel to them, even somewhat resembling body parts. I loved these long thin layered/textured pieces and wanted to create something similar.

So I started by testing with materials, and then made my first piece. Using the canvas as a base I rolled it into a long tube shape, I then layered it up with all different sorts of material. Using rope/bin bags to shape the tube properly, and wire/masking/gaffa tape for texture. I found that using these layers and bounding it tightly also made the tube more flexible. 

We then went to photography and worked in pairs/a big group, using our tubes to connect us together. I do not have the photos at this minute and so will make a separate post for those.

Our group was then set a challenge of connecting all our tubes together to make one big structure. We decided on having two towers on either end, joined by string/attached to the ceiling. All tubes in the middle were hanging from ceiling/hung on sticks. It was pretty difficult to get stable, but once we did it looked great!

As it was a lovely day, we went outside to capture our tubes with everyday objects. I tied my tubes to a tree, put them inside a plant with similar looking leaves, weaved them through a fence, leant them against a handle bar and (my favourite) looped the tubes round a bike chain. I tried to capture my tubes looking as natural as possible. Some didn't quite work, but I enjoyed experimenting with different ideas and objects. 

Fine Art: 'Transform': Artist Research.

We are looking at artists that use the idea of transformation in their work. I chose to blog about Cornelia Parker. In her work she often experiments with found objects and materials, changing and directly transforming them into something completely new. She then uses these transformations to explore topics like time and experience. 

The first piece I saw was 'Thirty Pieces of Silver'. 

Firstly I loved how she had taken 150 pieces of silver and transformed them into 30, creating new structures. She said 'I wanted to change their meaning, their visibility, their worth, that is why I flattened them, consigning them all to the same fate.' I like the idea that she had completely ruined the objects they used to be, they were all just scrap, so she let them transform into something else, something collective. 

Another example of this is in her piece 'Cold Dark Matter: An Exploded View'. In this piece she has filled a shed with common items, and had it blown up. She then took the remains and reconstructed them, placing a bulb in between. By doing this she appears to re-create a moment in time. Viewing this is like watching the explosion being paused. It's quite incredible!