This project is the most challenged and my favorite one.
The challenge is to transfer from 0D to 3D– an idea to a physical 3D structure–Physicalizing a concept is very interesting because I have to think what form and media to best express my intention.
When talking about relationships, I keep thinking about friendship, because I heard of the saying that there is two different friendship: one is the “BBF”, and then there is the friendship that is only for career benefits. I want to clarify how they work and possibly proof it’s wrong through this project.
But before this idea came up, I was struggling with many very unique other ideas that I would have and will do them if I have more time and sources for the project.
Thinking of form, I thought of the idea of games, so I decided to make my 3D structure part of a short game.
Thinking of media, I was inspired by Félix González Torres’s “Portrait of Ross” and loved how he uses candies to represent different people’s identities when they interact. And that moment the idea of “pain” working with sweet candies just jumped out of my mind. Also getting inspired by the extreme “SAW” movie– the sharp teeth structure that is invented in a way that it’s easy to get in but hurt to get out.
These are my sketches.
So I started to test if the teeth structure will work, I started with a very thin plastic board connecting with string because I want to prevent actually hurting people.
But the materials are to bannable and not stable enough, it doesn’t resist people’s hands at all.
Then I took a second try, I used a thicker plastic and made each triangle smaller, so it’s more stable, but meanwhile, I uses a flat file and smoother the tip of the triangle so it doesn’t actually hurt. I used wires are the connection, and I am very happy about the result.
After finishing the top structure, I went to the container store and bought two identical candy jar. I chose the once that are rough and deep because I want people to put their whole hands in to reach for the candies, and also round surface makes the jar looks really safe while it surprisedly hurts people.
Then it’s the hardest part, the physicalizing concept part. The form and media are done, now I have to think of a way to best pour my concept in. The concept is the soul of a body.
My goal is to make people want to reach for both jars, but at the same time, provide other choices. They can reach for only one jar or both jar at the same time. So I started to construct the rules of this game.
” You only have one chance, you can either choose one jar and take one candy or take one out of each jar at the same time. PS: it’s gonna hurt”
This way, they can choose to reach for one jar, and save themselves out by using the other hand that is not stuck, or they put both of their hands in and have to ask for help.
Something that people always desire is the” good” things, and beyond “good” is better. I choose these words instead of my previous idea of words” goal” and “lust” is because it’s more indirect in a way also more relatable. In order to attract the audience, I picked out some really colorful tasty candies for the “good” jar, then put really beautiful lollipops in the “better” jar, because “lust” looks better, but not necessarily “taste” better.
My concept behind this is a direct metaphor of the game– its purpose being to focus on the space in between the two jars, that’s where a relationship needs to be put in between in order to achieve and connect both.
You only have one life, You can either choose to achieve my dream, goal or go for your fantasied lust, or you can go for both. But that needs something from you to pay. You need to involve a relationship in between to help you out with achieving both. I as the host during the game will represent as the business benefited friendship, by asking the audience ” do you want my help? I can help you if you give me half of your candies.” but there are also other possible relationships such as your family or lover, who will ask less or none in return. It’s a very personal game indeed.
In the end, every option hurts, because it takes efforts and pain to achieve what you desire.
Almost forgot to mention, there is always the passive forth option– breaking the jar– that’s means earn it without pain, in reality, it can be winning a lottery or robbing the bank. it all depends on your choice of path.
It’s a game of choices you make in life that fills in space in between.
From this project, I not only learned how to transfer 0D to 3D, but also understood myself better, and got more comfortable talking about the ugly side of life–greedy. Most importantly, looking through others’ project, I felt like that I have step one step closer to all my classmates by learning their relationships. I think this project is very useful because I get to express my intention by interacting. Meanwhile, the guest from my professor’s community also gave lots of good ideas such as ” why not involve the lower part of the body” or ” expend the idea into a performing art” or ” make more jars to represent the limitless choices of life.” they are broad my view. Through this semester’s classes, I have got more confident working with 3Ds and get to know the character of 3D things bring interacting and perspective.
According to the text, the Eyes of the Skin, Architecture and the Senses, “The elements of architecture are not visual units or gestalt; they are encounters, confrontations that interact with memory.” I have to learn how to construct a 3D structure that is more intimate and attract personal connection and emotions.
