Industrial vs Organic
'E'
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Meaning
Over the past decade technology has progressed immensely. It is difficult to walk around the corner and not see an adult, teen or a child without holding a smartphone. I am also guilty of this but I’m not the worst.
Today, many people spend their time on the internet whether it be for business, family or for just passing the time. A decade ago, I remember when I spent majority of my time outside. It’s almost weird to think I spent my time outside playing with my cousins at my grandmother’s house or with my neighbor around the block. As I got older, I started getting more into technology, mainly video games, and slowly stopped going outside. Starting to spend most of my time on the web, I talked less and less to my neighbor and soon to my cousins who also got sucked into the internet. Although, it isn’t as bad. I feel that the internet also has it’s positives. For instance, being able to communicate with family far away after not seeing or talking for years or even spreading awareness to people who need help. It is also a place to meet people with the same interest or learning about events one might want to attend. Even providing different points of view for society to think about and listen to such as the LGBTQ community society has become more accepting of them. It's made me more open minded and losing communication with my family was only in the beginning. Now, since we don’t see each other often especially since we go to different schools, we have a lot to talk about and catch up on making for a long conversation.
It’s nostalgic thinking about past memories and how I used to spend my time, but I was able to expand my knowledge of the world and explore different my interests. Since time goes a lot faster when older, it can be difficult to decide what one’s priorities are and technology and can easily distract but it has helped society become more open minded.
Today, many people spend their time on the internet whether it be for business, family or for just passing the time. A decade ago, I remember when I spent majority of my time outside. It’s almost weird to think I spent my time outside playing with my cousins at my grandmother’s house or with my neighbor around the block. As I got older, I started getting more into technology, mainly video games, and slowly stopped going outside. Starting to spend most of my time on the web, I talked less and less to my neighbor and soon to my cousins who also got sucked into the internet. Although, it isn’t as bad. I feel that the internet also has it’s positives. For instance, being able to communicate with family far away after not seeing or talking for years or even spreading awareness to people who need help. It is also a place to meet people with the same interest or learning about events one might want to attend. Even providing different points of view for society to think about and listen to such as the LGBTQ community society has become more accepting of them. It's made me more open minded and losing communication with my family was only in the beginning. Now, since we don’t see each other often especially since we go to different schools, we have a lot to talk about and catch up on making for a long conversation.
It’s nostalgic thinking about past memories and how I used to spend my time, but I was able to expand my knowledge of the world and explore different my interests. Since time goes a lot faster when older, it can be difficult to decide what one’s priorities are and technology and can easily distract but it has helped society become more open minded.
Artist and Inspiration
When I began this project the first thing that came to mind was the steam punk culture. I was fascinated by the detail that goes into the props and costumes, creating the illusion off rust, bronze and oil. I came across many artist who create small nick-knacks using small objects they find but Martinet caught my attention. His sculptures are made by small objects that he either finds or buys depending on the pieces he needs for a project he wants to start or finish. What I find most interesting in his work is how he is able to make is seem as if the sculpture is actually alive. In other words, it gives the impression of life. It struck me to do something similar only with clay. I specifically chose this artist and culture because the designs are very detailed to the point where it gives the illusion of movements. For instance, the gears often used in the steampunk style look as if they actually work and Martinet's realistic robots look as if they are about to scurry around.
Ironically, I was inspired sitting in my worst subject, math, and listening to a short explanation of 'Euler´s number.' I learned that the logarithmic spiral was doing all over nature such as shells, tusks and even galaxies. Even though it is found in nature it was actually discovered through compound interest. Today, it's used in calculating population, circuits and thermodynamics. Learning about 'E' inspired me to use it's most common representation, a Nautilus shell, as my main reference. It made sense for me to combine the culture of steam punk, Martinet's ideas, and math in order to create a representation of how organic shapes and industrial ideas go hand in hand. Especially since the current generation rely on technology and industrial concepts so much that nature is not thought about as often by younger children as it should. |
Martinet, Edouard. PRAYING MANTIS. 2016. Found Objects. 2016 Exhibition, UK.
Byrd, Deborah. Cutaway of a Nautilus shell showing the chambers arranged in an approximately logarithmic spiral. Digital image. Earth Sky. Earth Sky Communications, 18 Apr. 1013. Web. 12 Feb. 2017.
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Planning
It was difficult for me to come up with something that hasn't been done already. In other words, something that isn't considered 'Been there done That'. I also wanted to do something similar to Salvador Dali because I find his art weirdly interesting. Some of his art pieces reminded me of the steampunk culture which lead me to do some research on designs and small details. In other words I concentrated a lot in observing the smallest details. I also referenced Edouard Martinet's works in order to get a feel of how to make something look realistic.
After figuring out that I wanted to us e a Nautilus shell, I sketched roughly what the man designs would look like and added on as the time progressed. |
Process
I first had to prepare clay before running it through the pug mill and to do that a block of clay needed to be wrapped around a wet towel for a couple of days. When the block has had enough days to soak up the water, then, with a bit of help, I had to cut it up into small enough pieces. I added a small block into the pug mill with wet clay. After running the clay a couple of time to get the right consistency, I started shaping it into the appropriate shape. I then removed the excess clay and started to shape the actual shell, making sure it had an almost symmetrical spiral but sturdy enough so it wouldn't collapse or break in any way. In order to add the small details, I rolled the necessary clay needed into thin coils and added them by scoring and creating an illusion of metal plates. By using a paint brush I smooth out any lumpy areas as much as possible and made sure that the flattened coils wouldn't fall out. I repeated this process to add make shift screws. In order to add the smaller details, like the small holes,I used a small screw driver in different angles in order to create different types of hole designs.I then smoothed out any necessary areas using small amounts of water and set it aside to dry.
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Experimentation
Not working with clay for a while, I had to try and remember what I was taught freshmen year as well as ask any classmates what they remember we had to do to properly make a clay sculpture. Luckily, I was able to observe freshmen after school and I experimented with what I remember like how to score or when I should add water to the clay. I also had to pull up reference in order to get the shell's shape correctly since it is very symmetrical in a way. In order to achieve the shape, I first created a flattened sphere, trying to make the edges as round as possible. I then I drew and redrew where the spiral would generally be. I also experimented with different tools and explored what I could do with the tools I had at my disposal. I came up with different designs and small details when I finished with the sculpting stage.
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Reflection
For the most part I am quite happy of how this project turned out. Since I enjoy working with clay, it didn't take me very long to finish. Doing this project helped me revisit different techniques I was taught and learn knew ones through trial and error. The most difficult part for me was making sure I didn't remove so much clay to the point where it would crack. This happened twice form what I remember and it was because there wasn't enough clay to hold it together or I would accidentally make a line too deep. This only happened when I was adding the smaller details such as the makeshift metal plate and molding them together. After the first few times I was able to get a hang on how to make them without as much trouble. If I were to redo this project, I wouldn't really change anything rather I would change my actions. For instance, every so often I should have stepped back and observed my progress and check for anything that may need fixing. If I had done this I would have been able to fix an uneven portion on the outer rim or the sculpture and fix any other minor details.
I chose Martinet as my main inspiration. Martinet is highly inspired my nature, specifically insects. I chose him as my inspiration because he is able to use small metal objects he finds into small sculpture that look alive. I wanted to do something similar using clay because I know I wouldn't be able to collect enough pieces to create a small animal sculpture but I know I was able to work with clay. I also wanted to integrate the natural number 'e' into my project because I learned that it is found all over nature and not only in industry. Since a nautilus shell is often used as an example for 'e' I decided to combine the idea behind Martinet's creations and a math term. Major differences between my work and Martinets mainly have to do with the mediums but I did my best in order to intimidate metal.
I chose Martinet as my main inspiration. Martinet is highly inspired my nature, specifically insects. I chose him as my inspiration because he is able to use small metal objects he finds into small sculpture that look alive. I wanted to do something similar using clay because I know I wouldn't be able to collect enough pieces to create a small animal sculpture but I know I was able to work with clay. I also wanted to integrate the natural number 'e' into my project because I learned that it is found all over nature and not only in industry. Since a nautilus shell is often used as an example for 'e' I decided to combine the idea behind Martinet's creations and a math term. Major differences between my work and Martinets mainly have to do with the mediums but I did my best in order to intimidate metal.
ACT Questions
1) How are you able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork?
Martinet's ability to create the impression of life using small details had a great effect on my art piece. Using what I observed, I attempted to add similar small details in my own art.
2) What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author doesn't go as in depth in Martinet's artworks as I wanted. The author did although have an appreciation for his work and admires the sculptures Martinet creates.
3) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
My research was done mostly on the small detail done in the steampunk culture as well as Martinet's but I concluded that patience is one of the key elements when created artworks where small details make a huge difference.
4) What was the central idea for theme around your inspirational research?
My central theme was basically technology and how much that's been a major influence in the current society. Smaller topics, like math and patterns are used to support the main theme.
5) What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
I inferred that patterns in nature are often over looked and that Martinet's perseverance in finishing a sculpture is very satisfying.
Martinet's ability to create the impression of life using small details had a great effect on my art piece. Using what I observed, I attempted to add similar small details in my own art.
2) What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author doesn't go as in depth in Martinet's artworks as I wanted. The author did although have an appreciation for his work and admires the sculptures Martinet creates.
3) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
My research was done mostly on the small detail done in the steampunk culture as well as Martinet's but I concluded that patience is one of the key elements when created artworks where small details make a huge difference.
4) What was the central idea for theme around your inspirational research?
My central theme was basically technology and how much that's been a major influence in the current society. Smaller topics, like math and patterns are used to support the main theme.
5) What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
I inferred that patterns in nature are often over looked and that Martinet's perseverance in finishing a sculpture is very satisfying.
Bibliogrphy
-Byrd, Deborah. Cutaway of a Nautilus shell showing the chambers arranged in an approximately logarithmic spiral. Digital image. Earth
Sky. Earth Sky Communications, 18 Apr. 1013. Web. 12 Feb. 2017.
-Merrick, Jay. "Martinet Biography." Sladmore Contemporary. SquareGlu, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2017.
Sky. Earth Sky Communications, 18 Apr. 1013. Web. 12 Feb. 2017.
-Merrick, Jay. "Martinet Biography." Sladmore Contemporary. SquareGlu, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2017.