Process
Inspiration and Idea Development
Ancient Greek and Roman culture has always inspired me. The classic beauty that is told through these significant figures has stood the test of time. Art constantly draws inspiration from classical studies, but I love the simplicity and exquisiteness that is conveyed by these images. There are no ornate details to distract the eye, just a pure celebration of form.
I knew I wanted to address an aspect of the human form, but I wasn’t sure exactly what part. Once I decided on the idea of creating a female torso, the sculpture created its own story. The story of a strong, powerful woman.
Work-in-process
I started by creating the hips and waist. Then I created the breasts and shoulders. I ran out of chicken wire, but came to really love the form that emerged. Originally I thought I would create a back and neck, but after looking at the piece for a significant amount of time I really enjoyed the negative spaces as well. It had the same feel as crumbling marble over time, and Greek statues that lost pieces of the whole, which in my opinion create more interest and intrigue. I finally decided to spray paint the sculpture gold.
Critique and Reflection
Critiques
- I wanted to really emphasize the femininity of the piece, and considered adding natural elements of flowers to contrast the industrial metallic chicken wire, but a critique was given that it would upset the overall balance.
- It was suggested to change the colour of the wire to incorporate emphasis.
- Another idea was to put a neutral fabric inside the sculpture to showcase the shape and form.
- Considerations for the base were also addressed. Creating a base that mimics classic marble statues was brought forth.
Reflection
Without the critiques from my classmates my sculpture would have turned out very differently, probably for the lesser. It is so helpful to get outside perspectives and ideas. It can be hard to spot what aspects of the artwork need to be adjusted when you are constantly looking and thinking about the piece. Fresh eyes and thoughts can do wonders. My goal was to create a very feminine sculpture to contrast the industrial feel of the chicken wire.
I wanted to incorporate floral additions, but after the critique I realized that the sculpture’s subject matter was the source of its femininity. I didn’t need to add more feminine features because the form itself was already hyper feminine. I also decided to spray the entire sculpture gold to better showcase the overall form. I also wanted to allude to a strong and powerful bronze statue of a classical female warrior. I think putting the artwork on a pedestal also gives it that classic Greek and Roman feel.
When deciding on how to address the emphasis of the piece, it became evident that what I truly wanted to emphasize was the overall form. I was very happy with the shape I was able to achieve and I wanted to celebrate that. That is why I chose to spray the metal a more visible gold colour than the soft metallic grey. Adding any other elements I feel only distracted away from the form. Emphasis can be subtle, and still powerful.
Product
ARTIST REFLECTIVE STATEMENT
Name: Jeremy Wilson
Media: Chicken Wire
Title: Female
Comments:
Female was inspired by classical Greek and Roman art. It is a celebration of the female form. Femininity can be very powerful and beautiful at the same time. I wish to convey a sense of strength by using wire to create an elegant beauty that is the female form.
The female figure has been a strong source of inspiration for beauty throughout art history. I hope to emphasize the overall form with simplicity. I have never worked with chicken wire previously, and it was very cumbersome. I received many scratches and cuts from the wire, but I feel that only contributed to the contrasting nature of the wire with the elegant female form. How can a medium that is so cage-like and rough create such a delicate beauty?
This sculpture tells a story. The story of a beautiful woman that has had her heart slashed and broken into many pieces, creating an armour and cage necessary to interact with the world. Yet despite the hardness and barriers created on the inside, she radiates a classic simplistic beauty. This story is not what I had initially envisioned, but I am very happy this strong female character emerged from an inanimate roll of chicken wire.