PROPOSAL REVISITED!

As I have made a lot of changes in my project from my initial proposal, I've decided to redo some parts of my statement of intent. The underlined parts are the changes I have made!

Deceptive Outward Appearance

From the structure of the short term projects and being encouraged to work in different environments I have learnt that this course allows you to be more open minded, whether certain pieces are successful or not. As an artist, I have learnt to be more experimental in the way I work; a strong aspect I have learnt to apply within this course.

Out of the three two week projects from the first part of the course, I found the design ‘7 sites’ most exciting. I was applying mediums into different contexts and as a result I created two spatial related outcomes. It was from this and visiting exhibitions such as Phyllida Barlow’s RIG that I realised I wanted to take the spatial/architecture pathway. A small aspect that I enjoyed from the Platform project was my brief play with wool and how I used it in relation to the studio space to define shapes for my final outcome. It is from this I have developed my proposal for the Final Major Project.

My initial idea was generated from Felice Varini’s anamorphic illusion paintings on urban spaces; deceptive images that play on the viewers eye depending on the position they stand. I wanted to bring the idea of deception in an architectural sense, focusing more on structure and space. As a result, I decided to present this through materials and their properties, particularly ones which are known to be most impractical for architecture; such as wool, thread and yarn. The aim of this project is to explore the use of these particular materials in greater depth by learning certain methods such as knitting, sewing, weaving, stitching and any other embroidery related techniques to create both 2D and 3D outcomes. I want to create two possible outcomes at the end of the project; one to take an abstract approach whilst the other a more practical one. The conceptual piece out of the two will placed within the site and will hopefully be more of an installation/sculptural piece. The practical piece will be a model of a representation of the architectural structure that I would plan to design on the site. However for this the model itself would be made with thread whilst the realistic solution would not (though it would be of a material with similar qualities).Throughout the duration of the project I will be looking at artists such as Amanda McCavour, Maurizio Anzeri, Shaun Kardinal and Juliana Sabtacruz for inspiration or to develop any of my ideas.

To evaluate my processes, I intend to keep an A5 sized journal to write down any quick notes, sketches as well as contain any small experiments. I will also create a blog which will be the main asset to my project as it will be the place where all my reflective thoughts and self-evaluations go. It will where the viewer will be able to clearly follow the progression of my project from start to finish, including any research, experimental processes, final solutions or changes made. Lastly, I shall also have an A3 sketchbook purely just to contain all photographic documentation of my final models as well as any development sketches.

Final Outcome 2

This is the final solution to my more practical/architectural outcome. I wanted it be simple and so used one style/colour of thread (I felt white would be neutral but would still stand out against the branches). The wool is used to create the walls/cieling of this structure, creating shade for people if it were to be a real solution.
Speaking of realistic solutions, if it were to be made, evidently wool wouldn't be an ideal material...although it could possibly be used, as the structure would be temporary and as it will be in the summer, it will be hot and sunny. However if not, it'd most likely more a strong, thick wire so it would be sturdy enough to maintain it's shape and stay in place.

Final Outcome 1 : Finished

These are some close up shots of the reflection of the thread on the clear plastic. The reason for me choosing this design was so the viewer could easily see the reflection. As well as this, I wanted the plastic board to curve so it would stand up right when I had the thread pulled and tied tightly (and it worked effectively with this design).

Final Outcome 1: The Making

Final Outcome(s)

After much deliberation and reading over my proposal, I've decided that I am going to make 2 final outcomes; one abstract whilst the other a more practical approach. My reasoning for this is that throughout my project, I've been very conceptual in my practical making and the initial ideas behind it. I don't want to have this and then suddenly change my approach completely by the end of the project so then it would make the rest of my project seem futile.
My practical outcome is going to be the hang out structure in the forest during the Olympics and alongside the Snoozebox. My abstract outcome however will be more of an installation/sculpture that will also use Hainault Forest as its setting, where I'll create a more life size version of the acetate sketch models I made (as they were another experimental process that I thought were successful). As the title of my project deceptive outward appearance, I want this outcome to emit the idea of deception and illusion for the viewer, from the way the thread is reflected on the clear surfaces its sewn in as well as the space it is situated in.

WHAT I NEED TO BUY/PREPARE:-

- Plastic Board
- Thread/Wool
- Foam Board
- Model/Grass Trees
- Get the drill and work out how to use it
- Plan what design I'm going to do for the installation outcome and plan where I'm going to drill the holes.

Snooze Box (Hainault Forest)

Having done some research on my site, I found this article about how they are planning to set up a temporary hotel for Olympic staff during/after the Olympics. I thought that this was the perfect solution for my final outcome to build around. As it's going to be a busy period, it's going to welcome a lot of tourists as well as have the staff already residing there. The country park itself is mostly made up of woods, so I could  create some temporary structures within the forest for people to hang out (a place to set up a picnic and generally just relax).

Site Decided: Hainualt Forest Country Park

As it's coming towards the end of this (and as I also stated in the previous post), I've had to go and research a site for my final solution. So as a result, I've decided to is Hainault Forest Country Park to be that place.
My reason's for choosing this area is that it's quite easy for me to get to (as it resides in Essex) and so I can easily access the place by visiting it or to do any possible live experiments. Also, having looked back over my blog and all the practical skills that I have learnt, I felt that the one I thought was the most successful (and the one that I enjoyed doing) was the tree binding. I could create a solution for a huge structure that used the trees as its skeleton to hold it up. Then from that, I would be introduced to a number of possibilities to whether it could become a picnic/shading area or a place to sit and hang out.

A practical approach?

I decided to place the people figures on to the small sketch models to give them a more realistic approach (as well as to show scale). As a result of this, I thought that maybe I could turn the conceptual approach to my project into a more practical one. I thought these models would make great seating furniture pieces but as I want my final solution to relate more to architecture than product, I thought I could create a seating/hang out area! Having said this, if I decide to take this route, I'll need to find a site for this structure to go on...somewhere I can adapt any of the practical (thread related) skills that I have learnt during this project.

These are a few of the results of the thread acetate experiments. Because they were able to bend and curve, they could stand up instead of lying just flat. What I also like about using the clear acetate is how the thread was reflected on the surface, giving the illusion that there was thread sewn on the other side as well.

As I began sewing the thread to the acetate, I realised that the tighter I pulled on the string, the more acetate would bend, creating a more 3D shape. I thought this was a really interesting discovery and a concept that I most definitely will begin to explore!

These are some close up shots of the sewn button through clear plastic in my research book (this was done a few weeks back!). I find it interesting how the photographs themselves give it a different appearance, making it look slightly unrecognisable. I think these would make some great 3D solutions, and so I want to explore this further by sewing thread through acetate.

Threaded Doughnuts Structure

Threaded Doughnuts

This is the last time that I am going to experiment with the pom pom making process! I've found another idea that I want to continue with and develop (a small skecth model that I made in my research book). So, for the pom pom making the last thing that I needed to explore was scale. I made different sized ring doughnuts which I would then wrap wool around.

What I noticed about this (which I didn't expect) was that I could bend the threaded doughnut rings into different positions (and the would maintain their shape!) I think this is due to only using one cardboard ring and the tightly wounded thread strengthened it.

Knitting's not for me.

After an hour of knitting, I decided that knitting was definitely a method that I didn't want to continue with. I found it to be quite a slow process and if I were ever to make a 3D piece using it, it would take up alot of my time. I'll probably have another go at it in my own time as more of a hobby, however, during a period where I'm easily stressed or frustrated, I don't think it'd an ideal technique that I should continue to follow through with.

Wire Doughnut (0.38mm thickness)

Out of all the experiments that  I have done so far, this is was the one that was unsuccessful. It was much more easer to wrap around the cardboard and to cut (compared to the previous wire used). However, as I cut through each strand, they fell off and lost it's shape. This is most likely due to the fact that the wire was much more thinner so it couldn't contain its shape.

Having experimented with wire for the pom pom making process, I don't think I'm going to explore this anymore with any other materials. Although the previous experiment was more successful, I found it quite difficult to cut through. So if I chose to use a much more outrageous material (like a hose pipe) it will most likely not work out!

Wire Pom Pom 0.5mm (The Outcome)

This is the end result of the wire made pom pom. Because wire itself is a very fine metal, it was able to bounce into the 'pom pom' shape like the yarn. Instead, a concave 3D structure was created instead.
I do actually quite like the quality of the wire itself, the appearance of the photo making it quite aesthetically pleasing to look at. Also, as the wire is easy to bend, you can mould it slightly into a different shape or rearrange the strands.

Wire Pom Pom (0.5mm thickness)

After the feedback given from my tutor, I decided to immediately return to the pom pom making process of the experimental stages of my project. Instead of looking at thread/yarn, I used wire instead to see how the outcome would turn out. The wire I used for this was quite thick so it was quite malleable, meaning it will hopefully stay in place when I cut through it. However, what I found quite difficult about this was because it was thick, I found it difficult to cut and as I had to move each individual wire so I could cut one at a time, it lost some of the circular shape.

My nan no longer has her sewing machine, so sadly I can't do any experimental work with that (as this was stated in my action plan). However, she did have a a collection of Knitting needles that I could have as she has no more use for them (her 'fingers aren't as nimble as they use to be' as she kindly put it).
So this is a great excuse to read the 'Knitting for Dummies' book that I took out the library! Depending how this goes, maybe this will be the point where I develop the rest of my project from.

POM POMS!

These are the final experimental outcomes that have come out from the pom pom making and finger knitting. I've placed them together to create on collective piece to see how they would work in a space. However, from viewing it from both the photographs and it in real life...I don't think they work well. Maybe if I produced a lot more of the pom poms to consume an entire space, then maybe they'd be more successful. However, I can't guarantee that as I don't want to spend my entire time on them considering they are quite time consuming to make.

Though after having a talk with my tutor, he told me that the actual processes of the methods was an interesting aspect and is something I should further explore (rather than the final solutions created themselves).  So maybe I could possible look at scale, materials or stopping at certain stages of the process to create some architectural structures.