Mask imperfections.

A series of dust masks with expanding growths engulfing them. This series combines 2 of my favourite materials and processes. The associations we have with these masks protecting us are challenged, and the clinical white confuses, repulses and fascinates. I'm finding the ideas of accumulation and build up are becoming more and more important in my work.

  

 

Combos, build up and development.

     

Boils & Bubbles.

                              

Go backwards to go forwards.

I always enjoy working with tights! Such versatile material, such suggestions of the body and femininity, so close to the skin. They've featured in various projects since I was 16 and now they're back.

I'm so happy with these experiments. The shapes and textures are truly ugly, yet satisfying and transfixing. These are more like live drawings on the wall at the moment, and it's easy to change the shapes and reconfigure this growth. People's reactions have been really important, as they have had the initial head-jerk of repulsion, followed by a close examination and a prod here and there. This feels like it could really go somewhere.

Subverted Protectors.

These fume masks are really evocative. They represent cleanliness and protection, but they hint at something invasive and dirty surrounding the wearer. As we breathe through them, we are infesting them with the bacteria from within our bodies, ruining their sterile state, yet this is part of the process that we don't address, as we are in denial about the sullied state of our own bodies.

They are also worn in times of epidemic and mass panic, a fairly futile defence mechanism that comforts us none the less.

The colour gradation of the buds adds something to the mask that the fabric balls one lacks. the change in colour suggests development and ripening.

The false nails on an insole was a quick play, to do with the build up of foot bacteria against the "pretty" false cover ups we use to distract. These ideas are really interesting me, and it makes me think about what funny beings we are sometimes. Humour is definitely important here.

New materials and going back to the body.

These tests are starting to excite me. I was floundering a bit. without any specific associations to the materials I was using, but in a tutorial it was discussed how the associations we have with a material, particularly those related to the body, inform on how we react to a piece as a whole. I'm trying to use evocative objects now, and work on building up and transforming them into something new, yet recognisable. I think rubbers and the like have great material properties, and have associations with the clean, the sterile and the wipeable.

These tests are bringing out great words such as spreading, stretching, sprouting, bulging, bursting. These kind of verbs are key to achieving the uncomfortable biological/living feel I'm going for.

Growthy experiments.

These tests are turning out too pretty and have no element of disgust, which doesn't match my brief. I need to get ugly. The formations do have potential for embellishment, but these are lacking any repelling features.

Barnacle Face.

I always enjoy working onto the body, it is a surface that we can all relate to. This was inspired by Jason DeCaires Taylor's underwater sculpture, and how the corals tarted to encrust the bodies of the sculptures. I am moving back towards working in relation to the body- it is a vessel through which we all experience satisfaction and disgust, expecially in relation to the body itself. It is an important tool for people's reactions.

Back to Uni! - Material Experiments.

This is an experiment from some summer playing, using straws as big bugle beads. I loved this technique and it's growth-y look, and the ease of using it to build up a textured surface. Using the foam also meant i could use pins, and the structure would be more stable.

Polystyrene is proving to be an excellent base, plus I can sculpt it into strange organic shapes to work onto later. The suffolk puffs are made from crisp packets (not the easiest material to stitch). I love suffolk puffs, they are such a satisfying shape and get great folds. The metallic surfaces caught the light and acted like a growth-y disco ball.

...And these are some more plays with organic/uncomfortable/excessive formations and shapes.

Summer Banner Project with children.

I did a week-long project with some Year 5/6 kids to make a summer banner for their school. I designed the background, and they drew their ideas for images and objects that were summer themed. I taught them some handstitch techniques- applique and couching- as well as some collaging methods, and they chose which they wanted for their piece.

I'm so pleased with the result, it's an amazing summer explosion! The kids were so proud of their work, and they helped me with the composition and the narrative of a river running from their school to Robin Hoods Bay (where they had a residential). I hope they keep it up for a long time.