Space & Materiality Final

The development of idea:

It is very hard for me to abandon geographical shapes and patterns during the progress of making artworks. The art style of Tracy Featherstone attract me a lot when I am concentrating ideas.  The repeating shapes, the abstract yet tangible wood structure which also present an interesting furniture taste has soon become my inspiration. It makes me rethink the definition of “wearable”, then I reflect the different possibilities and functionalities that a wearable piece could enact. Then, to bound with my personal experiences, the recent obsession of computer and the heavy computer-related work which has been squeezing me for weeks and months help me generate the idea for this particular project, which is the coexistence between concentration and obsession. This complex relationship suggests that being constrained by something could be also addictive, or being addictive to something can generate confinement. Regardless of the logical order, they could help to generate concentration and productivity.

The model:

Almost as fast as the idea is crystalized in my mind, my imagination helps me to relate two completely different object together, which is the computer monitor and the shackles. They share basic shapes and forms, and interestingly they might also share some of the functionality, which is to bound people with them together.

   

The making process:

The pictures above suggest a quick peek of my first draft of this project. It is more weighted on its performance based expression. The person inside the picture has no self-awareness but rather chose to drench inside the digital world without knowing the fact that it has already lose its freedom. The computer screen acts like a shackle and the the boxy P.C. case also limits its mobility. It is also interesting that the monitor can also act like a wall that separates the virtual world and the reality. That is a valuable perspective to explore.

  

The creation process starts with the collection of materials. I chose some recyclable cardboard papers.

  

The first step is the assembly of the screen. My initial attempt to combining two pieces of cardboard is to use needle and lines. It is relatively unstable however I chose to use it first. Then I cut a hole which perimeter is slightly longer than my neck. The two identical piece then could open and close which allowing me to put my neck inside the hole.

  

It turns out to be pretty successful for the screen production. Then I add a hinge as a connection between the two pieces of screens. There are two pieces of wood acting like bridge. Then I use screws to bind them rigidly together. The hinge can handle the weight of the whole structure.

     

As I was inspired by the idea of “Virtual world”, I start to experiment pattern creation using random-sized rectangular cardboard paper. I want to use them to create the abstract feeling of the virtual world. They hold each other purely by friction. The process is challenging but rewarding.

   

Here are some pictures demonstrating how the stand is constructed.

   

When it stand alone on the ground it also provided some fashionable vibe to me. The rectangles not only symbolize the virtual world, they can also become the decoration when people put this wearable piece onto their shower. Then I use spray paint to make it sine. I use some small rectangular cardboard as masking tape in order to paint the digital light-blue textures to the backside of the screen to create variety and depth.

Finally, after everything is finished, I printout my desktop wall paper and stick it to the screen to make the front side truly appears to be a desktop computer. The fact that people can put their head into the hole through the word “focus” overlap and enhance the meaning of the word. Sometimes we just could not easily tell whether or not we are actively focusing or passively addicting.

 

Final Product:

 

Here are the finished product. I could say that besides social commentary, I do add more fashion element to make this piece looks more like an aesthetically pleasing wearable sculpture. I apply photoshop in the last image. The textures and tones are blend together, and that shows the integration process between me and the virtual world that I am falling into.

 

 

 

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