February 28, 2024
This project builds off of concepts from our previous iteration, Orthographic Projects & Linear Models. We were able to use our linear iteration for this project or start over with the object we created orthographic drawings for to make new planar and volumetric models. I chose to start over, as building models for the linear spoon structure I built previously wouldn’t have correlated to the requirements placed for the next models.
To start, we took inspiration from an object that we researched from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I chose “Bowl with Geometric Decoration” from the Late Naqada I period of Ancient Egypt (below). This bowl is a ware bowl, used to either serve, store, or consume food, one of several found in the Ancient Egyptian civilizations. The white cross-lined pottery is typical for the Late Naqada I period. These patterns were associated with descriptions of the Nile River and the geography surrounding Upper Egypt.
Our task was to create a planar and volumetric model utilizing our object that replicated the chosen Met work of art. Since I chose a bowl, I decided to base my shape on the bowl. I made my draft planar model with bristol paper, and the final out of chipboard. I edited the final version of the model because I realized that the draft shape wasn’t as bowl-like as I wanted it to be, so I made the outside of the bowl wider.
With this, we went into drafting for the volumetric model. Our materials had to be soured carefully, as we weren’t allowed to paint or draw to add color, nor were we allowed to use glue to connect material. I knew I wanted to replicate the patterns on the bowl somehow, whether it be through sewing or the material. I ended up using paan leaves, or betel leaves, a staple in Indian culture. I liked this material not only because it references the organic nature of the clay bowl from Egypt, but there are also patterns on the leaves that would serve that purpose. Plus, with context, a bowl made out of these leaves is very similar to the ware bowl because as it was most likely used to hold food, paan leaves are also used for food in South Asian cultures. I liked the parallel between the material and its use. I bought 20 leaves for about $4 at my local Indian grocery store, and I used linen thread and a needle to connect them.
First, I coated the front of the leaves with PVA to ensure that they wouldn’t crack when they started to dry up. This was a huge help as I didn’t coat a few of the leaves which ended up drying extremely brittle. I coated them twice, once over the entire leaf and another around the edges where I was planning to sew through. Because of the size of the leaves, I used 16 leaves total: 5 on the base, 6 in the middle, and 5 at the top. This process was tedious, as I had to make sure that the leaves conformed to the planar structure underneath, while also covering the right amount of surface to make up the bowl.
In the end, I was happy with my result. I honestly wasn’t sure about how the leaves would hold up as organic material, but it worked well. I managed to reference the ware bowl through the patterning, shape, and material intention. If I were to build off of this project or do it again, I would try and source bigger leaves so I could match the quadrant-like patterning from the ware bowl instead of using 5 leaves at the bottom, and I would also sew patterns into the leaves after putting them together, maybe with colored linen thread, because although there is patterning on the leaves already, the ware bowl has geometric rather than organic patterns, so it would be a better nod to the initial object.
