the final triad

I have the final sign-up triad today with Niall, Alexandra and Kenny. I signed up in this group because i want to have some feedback for my sculptures from sculpture tutor. Kenny was the tutor in my first year project space. He gave me some constructive comments and direction of my sculpture-making(owl army) at that time so i thought it would be good to have some feedback from him for the bronze trash-making. The thing i like about triad is that it's always good to know other people's projects and works and i can get something new and distinct from others. However the role of observer always confused me. Personally i would like to say something that i really want to say. In addition, i need more time to digest and think about what people say and hopefully i can give them useful feedback. Due to lack of the background of contemporary art, i find triad is really difficult for me. Not to mention the problem of English, it is also hard for me to compose my speaking within limited time. Anyway, i tried my best.

We started with Alexandra's works, mine next and Niall was the last. My speaking was mainly about my plan for degree show because it is the final stage to me now. First of all, I explained my interest toward objects, daily life and memory and show pictures of my assembling plates which i am going to exhibit in degree show to them. These photos are the starting point of my sculptures. I used objects in my life to compose photographs and through this process, some meaningless things became meaningful. Led by this idea, I transformed the trash from cheap materials to bronze. I hope the process can also elevate the value of those trashy objects and give the audience something to think about. Bringing up the recycling or environmental issues is not my intention. I just want to give people some experiences of looking at something that they might overlook in their daily life. After the explanation of my works, I raised the questions about the colour of bronze and how to display them in the degree show. Also, I asked them about the connection between my photographs and sculptures. Being the audience, is there any relation between these two bodies of works to them?

They talked about the colour first. Kenny gave me this idea of using their original colours like yellow for banana or white for polystyrene box. It will be interesting because people may think these are real trash when they see from certain distance and find out these are not when they come closer to the bronze trash. He taught me to use acrylic to paint the bronze. I got comment from several colleagues that I should let them be in shiny gold. However it is almost impossible to do because i will lose every detail on them during the process. In addition, using gold for bronze somehow is predictable in a way. I guess it will make the idea too obvious and direct. I want to try the real colour of the object onto those bronze sculptures. In my imagination, the colour won't be vivid and it will look a little bit worn out on the contrary. In terms of display, kenny said they will work either on the plinth or on the ground. Somehow i prefer to display them on the floor because i think that is the nature of litter on the street. I got some several ideas now to place them. Some decisions need to be made soon!

I was really glad that i sign up for this final triad. I earned a lot! Thank you so much, Kenny, Niall and Alexandra!!!

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model-making fun

Before the degree show in ECA, we have this opportunity to show in the foyer of Talbot Rice Gallery. After discussing for several times, we came up with this idea that dressing-up that space into different foyers. However, it is not that easy to do it in life-size so we decided to make a model of the foyer and each person can arrange his/her own interpretation of foyer. The end product will be prints and video and will show in that space.

Sander built the structure of the whole model which was perfectly made before he went to Japan. Then I helped Lindsay and Despina to do more details and decoration. It's so good to work with them!!!

Some photos of the process :)

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casting plan (05)

After finishing the first round of bronze trash-making, I started to think about how to display them. And then I traced back to the concept of this project. The trash I chose was those would appear on streets rather than the garbage from our domestic environment. Those materials are cheap and designed for discarding easily. By changing those materials into bronze, you can't just discard them at will because of their value or their weight. In addition, the reason that I twisted them is trying to suggest they had been used and not only brand new products. I attempted to increase the value of trash.

In terms of display, I once thought of using plinth to show them. However, plinth will also elevate the value of objects but I think bronze has already suggested that idea. Also, these objects should be on the ground according to their nature. I think I will place them on the floor but at the same time I am still not sure about the further details for showing them. Need to come up with some ideas!!!

Today is the second round of bronze-pouring. Taking pictures of my bronze trash with those trashy(but expensive) bronze right before the pouring.

p.s

Just signed up for the very last triad next tuesday with Kenny, Niall and Allie. Hope I can get some ideas about display from the triad.

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casting plan (04) banana challenge

One of my object for trash-making is banana peel. After talking to John, he also thought this would be the most challenging one because the peel was very thin and the shape was curvy. The liquid bronze maybe won't go through the whole mould. However I still want to try it. At the same time, I look up online to see if there are some artworks about banana peel. Surprisingly I find some interesting images and works of banana peel.

1.

There was a giant banana peel in Copenhagen. It was part of a campaign for keeping Copenhagen clean. The sticker says "Ren by: Det er en kunst att holde byen ren" which means "Clean city: It is an art to keep the city clean." ( via Flickr: Aprile C )

Five days later, it became another trash somehow make the city dirty. How ironic! ( via Flickr: Johannesen )

2.

Banana Peel Installation by Adriana Lara at the New Museum's 'The Generational: Younger Than Jesus' Show (food art), 2009. For the banana peel installation, a museum employee is instructed to eat a banana each morning and discard the peel somewhere in the exhibition space, and, appropriately, there's a security guard always hovering nearby to protect it.

During the show, a visiter even kicked the banana peel away. The contrast of the trash and artwork and the fine line between these two different polars was very interesting and obvious by this accident. ( via EAT ME DAILY )

3.

A jewellery collection inspired by banana peel was designed by McGowan and McClain. 

( via General Valentine and McGowan and McClain )

4.

I think this is the most famous banana and its peel in the world...

  

by Andy Warhol

5.

Shattered Banana Peel by the artist Brock Davis. This is from the series called Make Something Cool Everyday: 2009. I like the way he broke the characteristic of banana peel. From this photograph, the soft banana peel transformed into broken and sharp pieces of glass or ceramic. I love it!!! Just like the title suggested, he did do something interesting on 25.01.2009.

( via Brock Davis )

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dancing (02)

I knew this clip from my favourite movie "Ghost World"
Dance! Dance! Dance!


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casting plan (03)

I finished some trash-making and spent lots of time filing and polishing. I wouldn't say it was 100% successful but I was quite happy with the outcome. Need to carry on the rest of the trash-making!

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bags

Screen-printing bags are for fund-raising for our degree show.
The title is "a rush and a push and the land is ours"
Lindsay's and my drawings appear on the canvas bag today.
HOORAY!!!!

Thanks to our AWESOME PR TEAM - Kim, Sander, Linda and Iain to make this happen!!!

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casting plan (02)

Today is the bronze-pouring day. The time in foundry is always pleasant. The dripping, red, liquid bronze always fascinates me. In addition, I enjoy the process of labour works like applying mixture onto the mould or shoveling sand although it makes me tired afterwards. It is just like a sacred ritual in order to get a perfect goal or trophy.

A million thanks to John! Thank you for always being patience and kind and helping me a lot all the time!!!

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