Process
Inspiration and Idea Development
My inspiration for this sculpture came from Ancient Egyptian culture and fashion. I am very interested in ancient societies, and how they are still relevant even to this day. I find what they wear and how they chose to portray themselves, very elegant and beautiful.
I started by making just a crown, and I was going to use sheets of copper metal to cover the sculpture, but I found that it didn’t really add anything to the piece. I decided to then use pennies, which are a disappearing material since they are no longer in use, and it was very difficult to track some down. After making the crown I felt that it needed more to get the Egyptian affect, and so I added some traditional elements seen in a lot of their headpieces.
Work-in-process
Critique and Reflection
Critiques
- I was asked what type of material I was planning to use, and why.
Reflection
I didn’t get a lot of feedback when constructing this wearable art but the one critique I did receive was very powerful. I was asked what material I was going to use to make this sculpture, and what significance it had. At first I was planning to use metal sheets of copper. After thinking about this, the only real reason I had for choosing this material was that it would make the sculpture look bronze and ancient. I was thinking how I could make the material add to the piece even more and came up with the idea of using pennies. My inspiration images almost look as if the headpieces were make from round pieces of copper, however they are made from wood and gold. I thought the idea of using a disappearing material like the penny, would add another dimension to this culture that no longer exists and has disappeared. Pennies also give the sculpture that ancient bronze look as well.
On a separate note, I think if I were to display this wearable art on a female model with longer hair it would add more to the presentation. These headpieces were more commonly seen on women, and I believe are more accentuated when longer hair underneath is able to show the contrast between “metal” and a natural material like hair.
Product
Artist Statement
Name: Jeremy Wilson
Media: Cardboard, Pennies
Title: 500 Pennies
Ancient antiquities, especially Egyptian or Greek & Roman, has always been a strong interest and inspiration of mine. When looking for ideas to create a wearable piece of art, I immediately began searching images of ancient Egyptian headpieces and clothing. I became transfixed by the beauty of these intricate and delicate headpieces worn by nobility. With my sculpture I hope to capture the same aged and antique look of Egyptian relics. I want to convey a sense of opulence and prestige made from a cheap and disappearing material like the penny.
I chose to overlap the pennies to give it a layered effect, and create some texture within the piece. The repetition of the 500 pennies used to cover the sculpture give it a sense of pattern and rhythm. I like that the different colours of the pennies gives the sculpture some contrast and makes it shine in different ways depending on the light.
When I wear this piece I feel powerful. I feel as if I am a part of a rich culture and history that does not exist anymore but is kept alive through our continued study and celebration of its beauty. I really enjoyed adding another dimension to this piece by using a disappearing material like the penny to get a bronze, antique look. It only cost $5.00 to make this sculpture but it gives a sense that it is ancient and important.