To give my definition of “beauty” from the volume project, I started by designing a mask in the shape of an eye as the saying “the eye is the window of the soul” goes; I define “beauty” as the beauty of the soul. The concept of the “eye” is important in Ancient Egypt; fusing my present definition of beauty with historical, cultural concepts enables the design to embody more meanings.
Horus was the ancient Egyptian sky god who was usually depicted as a falcon. His right eye was associated with the sun god, Ra; his left eye is sometimes represented as the new moon and the god Djehuti. Therefore, the two elements associated with the eye of Horus — the sun and the new moon — form the design of my mask and the extended head and jaw piece. The center eye piece is made with pieces of plywood of 4 different sizes using stitching as the connector; the plane which the plywood eye structure is attached to is made with embroidery cloth and transparent plastic sheet with a wire frame underneath. Seven is an important number in ancient Egypt, the symbol of such ideas as perfection, effectiveness, and completeness; therefore, the number seven is involved in the design. The circle plane together with seven movable triangles represent the sun, and the lower jaw structure consisted of six semicircle panels and a crescent moon shape on the circle plane represent the new moon. On each of the seven triangles, an Egyptian symbol is stitched. Besides, a falcon pendant is attached to the lowest wire frame marking the identity of the piece’s owner. The whole piece is designed to be worn by Horus — the falcon. The inner volume extended from the pentagon shape in the center of the eye mask enables the falcon to put his beak inside. The panels on both the upper and the lower part are movable, all able to fit the head of Horus when the piece is worn. The plywood structure is different from the initial paper model on the two ends because the stiffness of the plywood makes it impossible to achieve the slightly bent structure as shown in the paper structure.
Critique:
- Well researched, complex cultural context embedded into the design.
- Every detail is well-thought and the idea of symbols is cohesive throughout the whole piece.
- Why is the center Horus Eye symbol tilted?
- Consider the color of the piece, might be a little bleak. If want to go specific with the color as an extension of the cultural and historical reference, consider the colors that are actually used in the cultural context. But at the same time, the color as it now gives an earthly feeling that fit the desired cultural reference.
- Use the shape to define the head structure of the wearer more.
