Title: Sweet Surprise
Size: 30 cm x 46 cm Medium: Mixed Material Sculpture Completed August 2023 - Exhibition Text -Sweet Surprise is a multi-material sculpture replicating the appearance of a pinata. I wanted to show the negatives of over consumption and how no matter what gluttony can lead to disgust. I utilized sculptural inspirations of Kathleen Ryan, and her similar ways of representing rot as well as a classical inspiration from Abraham Brueghel. Using both repurposed and recycled components I am able to further the messaging of consumption and the waste that comes as a byproduct.
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- Inspiration -
Pleasures Known by Ryan, 2019
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Kathleen Ryan is known for her large scale sculptures of fruit. She utilizes fruit as her main motif while showing them in phases of rot/mold. Her main medium is a collage of various gemstones/crystals like agate, amethyst, etc.
The thing that is most unique within Ryan's sculptures is the different cuts of stone and while it doesn't effect the overall appearance, one the audience looks closer they are able to closely see the different detailing. This is something I wanted to replicate, however I had wanted to utilize a different method (utilizing different components instead of different fascits of the same material). |
Bad Grapes by Ryan is similar to her other works, however it does not have any obvious signs of rot, apart from the overall shape. This is something I had also wanted to emulate since I had wanted there to be an open/obvious section within my own sculpture to reveal the 'bad' aspect of the sculpture. Unlike Ryan I knew I wanted my piece to be bright and almost cartoonish, however I wanted to emulate her overall composition and how she is able to seamlessly blend aspects of her sculpture within each other.
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Abraham Brueghel is known for his lavish oil paintings of still life/fruit (also known as Italian still life). His works often have platters of fruit that overlap, and while they are meant to appear appetizing this piece in particular does not. This can be accounted for by the dark colors he utilizes as well as the overall composition. The fruit/subjects themselves appear to be fresh, however the pomegranates seem to be harshly strewn around while being crushed. This and the overall dark and muddy appearance lends itself to the paintings unappetizing appearance. This use of color was something I had wanted to utilize in my own work.
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Pomegranates and Other Fruit in a Landscape by Brueghel, ~1650-1674
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- Planning -
When thinking about my inspirations I knew I had wanted to create a 3-D piece. Initially I had thought about creating the sculpture entirely out of clay, while maintaining the realistic appearance of a cake. With this initial idea I wanted to link it to gluttony and how an over-consumption or an over desire of something can pervert it into something gross or unappealing. This is similar to Ryan and how she utilizes a different material (gemstones) to create a realistic appearance of rotten fruit on a mass scale. Unlike Ryan I had known I had wanted to make my sculpture to scale (similar to a normal three tier cake) instead of a larger than life size. I wanted it to remain somewhat realistic in order to keep it grounded but as I began brainstorming more I thought about creating a sculpture with a pinata appearance. This would be able to maintain my initial idea while becoming more childlike as well, something I personally think is filled with expectations or wants. To flip this normally positive/fun object, I had decided to create a 'rotten' filling similar to how Ryan represents rot and how
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After deciding to go the pinata route with my sculpture I began to plan out how I would create the overall structure. I knew I had wanted to create a 'cake' with three tiers that contained a large opening. Playing off of the pinata theme I had thought that this opening could look similar to one that had been broken open.
Similarly, when thinking about the overall space I had began to think about the overall dimensions of my sculpture as well. Once the measurements were figured out I was able to move onto the components within the structure. These components ranged from bugs to non edible garbage, to create a realistic result I had also begun thinking about how I can both sculpt these aspects and reuse certain items and integrate them. When planning for my sculpture I had placed emphasis on the overall structure of the sculpture since I knew it would be very circular, something that I have struggled with in terms of sculpting before. |
- Process & Experimentation -
To begin my process I first created the circular bases for each cake tier, this would make it easier later on since once each tier was done I would be able to just attach each piece. I created two of each base and cut a triangular shape out of the largest one. I knew I wanted an open space within my sculpture to fill with different things because I had wanted to emulate the way rot is shown within Ryan's sculptures.
After creating the bases I cut and score strips of cardboard and began to attach them to each base. This created three individual pieces that I would later attach. Before beginning to attach the tissue paper (that I would use for the pinata texture), I experimented somewhat in how to achieve that overall texture. I also experimented with what the bases would look like when I put the tissue paper on them. When I first began to do so I did not make the cardboard background lighter, however I did not light how it dulled the color so I would later add white tissue paper before hand. Once I was able to figure that texture I went from smallest to largest and began to make a rainbow color gradient. This was to push the overall falseness of the sculpture more. I had also made sure to paste tissue paper on the tops of each tier to ensure a seamless transition between each tier. |
After finishing the overall texture I began to attach each tier, the third and second tier had spaces within them for later in the process. Since the pieces were lightweight I simply attached them with hot glue, as it was the easiest way to do so.
Since I had wanted similar components to Kathleen Ryan, with her transition from edible looking fruit to the rotten exterior. I had experimented with different components like soda cans, milk cartons and creating resin spills. Many of these aspects did not work, whether that be because of my technique or my dislike for the end product. For example I knew I had wanted my piece to have movement, similar to soda spilling out of a can so I had initially used resin to create a clear base. However this base was too thin to utilize, so I had thought of using hot glue which also did not work. I had finally decided on utilizing clay instead, as it would be light enough to be easily molded. I had also painted some recycled soda cans to make them look more unique in the overall composition.
I had also wanted to create unattractive bugs/things that represent dirtiness. This is because I had wanted the filling of my sculpture to look like garbage. I had created things like worms, cockroaches, and flies out of a lightweight clay. When experimenting I wanted to be mindful of the weight of my sculpture overall. This was because I didn't want my sculpture to be too heavy on one side and I still wanted it to have the air of a pinata.
Once I had painted everything I began to assemble the inside of my sculpture. Using extra things like old shopping bags and bread/soda tabs I used them to fill in the extra space that I was unable to fill in with my components. This arrangement itself was also experimental since I had rearranged it many times attempting to make it look effortless, similar to Brueghel's still life. Once I was able to achieve that I added some final touched around and in the sculpture. |
*finished inside components
- Critique -
Similarities:
-Both mine and Ryan's pieces utilize different forms of texture to emphasize certain aspects. Ryan does it with different facets of stones while utilizing different colors to represent mold/the rotting of fruit. While I do it with the overall pinata texture as well as the different sizes of the sculpture filling. My use of texture is also used to emphasize the desired movement within my piece, I had wanted it to seem like a freshly broken pinata with all of the unappetizing filling pouring out of the inside.
-I wanted to replicate the overall composition and coloring of Brueghel's painting, so both works share these aspects. While the exterior of my piece is very different color wise, being very bright and saturated, the interior is similar. I created dark pieces within my sculpture to make them seem unappealing, like Brueghel. Likewise I also emulated his composition/how he placed the fruit within his work. The fruit in his piece overlap with one another, some covering each other. I did something similar with the sculpture filling as well.
-I wanted to replicate the overall composition and coloring of Brueghel's painting, so both works share these aspects. While the exterior of my piece is very different color wise, being very bright and saturated, the interior is similar. I created dark pieces within my sculpture to make them seem unappealing, like Brueghel. Likewise I also emulated his composition/how he placed the fruit within his work. The fruit in his piece overlap with one another, some covering each other. I did something similar with the sculpture filling as well.
Differences:
-Both of my inspirations can be classed as having more subtle transitions as well as somewhat more natural colors. While I had replicated the coloring for the inside of my sculpture the overall appearance is very bright, some of the inside components even being bright as well.
-Due to a difference in medium between me and Brueghel the way we utilize composition can also be seen as different. While I had wanted to replicate his composition since his work is still life (2-D) it made it difficult to emulate. Since my piece is 3-D both shadow and lighting had to be considered within the inside of the sculpture.
-Due to a difference in medium between me and Brueghel the way we utilize composition can also be seen as different. While I had wanted to replicate his composition since his work is still life (2-D) it made it difficult to emulate. Since my piece is 3-D both shadow and lighting had to be considered within the inside of the sculpture.
- Reflection -
This piece and the overall process was very experimental for me, while I have created sculptures before while utilizing different materials such as clay and cardboard, doing it on a somewhat larger scale while containing multiple components was something I had found challenging. Since this was an experiment heavy piece the end product was very enjoyable for me, since I was able to see what experiments had worked out at the end. Creating an exterior of something bright and then reversing that into something that can be seen as 'gross' was also something I had enjoyed doing as I think reversal within common themes of art is something that is enjoyable. This overall process was one that had challenged me, however I think the messaging of my piece is able to boost the overall appearance.
- Connections to the ACT -
1) Clearly explain how you were able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your art?
When I initially saw the inspiration from Brueghel I began to think about ways to present something appetizing and make it seem less than. Similar to his own work/composition I had wanted to replicate that. Likewise with Ryan when I began to see how she was able to utilize something associated with beauty (gemstones) and use it to create mold I had wanted to do something similar. Both of these inspirations drew me to create a sculpture with an appetizing exterior with an unappealing interior.
2) What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
There are similarities between mine and Ryan's works, both closely related to concepts of rot and how that presents itself in food. While Ryan is very literal with this I took a more symbolic route while being more cut and dry with the interpretation.
3) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I was able to learn more about how to create multiple components within a sculpture in a way that makes them unified.
4) What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
When looking for inspiration I had wanted to find things that relate to consumption, centering around food. Looking for still life would allow me to better understand how to place certain things in a natural setting.
5) What kinds of inferences did you make while reading your research?
How things like rot can be seen as beautiful, but once you put them on something appealing they no longer pertain to their unique presentation.
- Citations -
Ryan, Kathleen. Kathleen Ryan. 2016. https://www.kathleen-ryan.com/.
Flemish, Abraham Brueghel. “Abraham Brueghel: Pomegranates and Other Fruit in a Landscape.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436752.
Flemish, Abraham Brueghel. “Abraham Brueghel: Pomegranates and Other Fruit in a Landscape.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436752.