Wearable Sculpture – CONNECT DISCONNECTIONS

Name: CONNECT DISCONNECTIONS

Project statement: inspiration, artists intention, thought process

We began this project with the explorations of the meanings presented by the two phrases: wearable sculptures, and virtual reality. The wearable sculptures were thus defined as durable, static, limiting movement, geometrical, body adjusted, plug-in sculptures (made for a specific body position) or distorting the body. And upon exploring the notions of virtual reality (VR), it became clear to us that the definition of wearable sculptures is closely in line with that of VR. Virtual reality can serve as a catalyst to be transported in time or space, give the feeling of immersion, distort, and has a lot to do with vision. These are not directly similar to the notions of wearable sculptures, but both represent the idea of distortion and immersion.

However, before arriving at that realization, we went through numerous stages of brainstorming, where we listed all possible garments/accessories that could be made, all possible materials that we could employ, or all types of body limbs that we could focus on. Hence, we first thought of making a garment that could embody frames where a cell phone could be placed to showcase some sort of video. Upon more explorations, we chose to make our piece very immersive, both, in terms of the sculpture and the aspect of virtual reality.

The wearable sculpture Connect Disconnection consists of 36 pieces of wood that are attached with wool thread onto to reused sheer fabric. The wood pieces are put together in three shapes measured uniquely to fit the artists’ measurements. The “head cages” go on top of our heads and the fabric that covers us make us unable to see each other. We are connected by the fabric, yet disconnected through the captivating headpieces of wood.

Inspired by Nick Cave’s sound-suits we created three headpieces with fabric attached underneath connecting the users under one bigger piece. Unlike his project’s purpose of concealing race, gender, and class by covering the entire body, our purpose was to unite the three disconnected users. The sheer fabric that we used serves a sense of separation; you can see that there is someone underneath the fabric but it is difficult to see exactly who it is. The wooden cage-like structure is to show where the heads are supposed to be placed, underneath.

Pitch:

This piece unites three disconnected users and connects them by fabric, yet disconnects them through the static wooden head structure. The wearable sculpture shows the two dimensions of virtual reality, its ability to connect humanity, but simultaneously disconnect people more than ever.

Sketches: