Process
Inspiration and Idea Development
I was inspired by ideas of fluidity and movement. Wire is such a rigid and unyielding material, so I wanted to contrast that by creating something that is flexible and fluid. I became transfixed by images of jellyfish and their graceful elegance.
I started with multiple ideas, but the one that stood out amongst the rest was the idea of a jellyfish. After looking at inspiration images I became very fascinated by Jellyfish. I started by making one, but quickly realized that one jellyfish would not create the same affect. I decided to create two more jellyfish to further showcase the idea of fluidity.
Work-in-process
Personally it can be a struggle to know when a piece of artwork is finished. There seems to always be something else that can be added or an aspect to be altered. I tried adding different elements to the sculpture. I liked the idea of including cellophane to give it the transparent look of jellyfish, allude to being underwater, and even comment on the excessive amount of plastic in our oceans today, but it didn’t benefit the appearance of the sculpture. After weeks of reflection, and with the help of critique, I was satisfied with the end result. Sometimes less is more.
Critique and Reflection
Critiques
- I was struggling with using emphasis while still having a balanced piece of artwork. One suggestion from a classmate was to consider adding cellophane to the sculpture to give the illusion and transparency of water.
- I also received a critique that the sculpture already used emphasis and was complete as it was.
- Another critique brought my awareness to the display of the sculpture. Suspending them in the air really allows the sculpture to portray a sense of movement and fluidity that the jellyfish have.
Reflection
I was very happy to receive critiques on my sculpture because they helped me focus on thinking critically about the various aspects of the artwork. Critique allows us to think about our intentions for the piece. It also gives us the tools to assess whether more is needed or what needs to be altered. After struggling to incorporate the principle of emphasis, I realized it was already there. I tried using cellophane in the sculpture, but it just didn’t work visually. I also tried adding fishing line tentacles, but they became lost by the metal. They were nice ideas in theory but they ended up being more distracting than providing emphasis. Early in the sculpture-making process, I added silver metal tentacles within the majority of black metal tentacles. After looking at the sculpture for several days, I realized it felt complete to me because the emphasis had already been addressed within the artwork, I just didn’t realize what it was. The contrast of the silver metal to the black draws the eye inward to what is the most intriguing part of the jellyfish, in my opinion, the tentacles.
In order to get the full affect of the jellyfish, they need to be suspended in mid-air. Careful placement of the different heights and composition also are important to the sculpture feeling balanced and unified as a whole. They are not 3 sculptures beside each other but instead one whole entity.
Product
ARTIST REFLECTIVE STATEMENT
Name: Jeremy Wilson
Media: Wire
Title: Jumping Jellyfish
Comments:
Using such a rigid material, I want to create a sense of contrast by sculpting a piece of artwork that conveys fluidity and elegance. The medium is truly the message. I am inspired by jellyfish and the effortless grace they have floating through the water; they are a delicate yet powerful creature. Nature has always been a strong influence of mine, because there is so much beauty in the natural world. I want to create a moment of tranquility and peace, visualizing these serene jellyfish drifting through the water, contrasted by using an inflexible, hard metallic material. I titled this piece “Jumping Jellyfish” because it is a favourite expression of mine from the movie, The Little Mermaid, and I like the idea of Jellyfish jumping through the sea with its lack of gravitational pull.
I believe the wire gives the sculpture a strong sense of line and contributes to the overall movement of the piece. Oddly enough, the rigid wire allows me to bend the jellyfish tentacles in such a way to suggest it’s effortless movement through the water. I want to emphasize the tentacles because they are the source of the Jellyfish’s power. It is their only form of defence and strength. I have never worked with a medium like wire before, but I really enjoyed how beneficial it is for creating line and form. I want my sculpture to look like a 3-dimensional sketch right out of my sketchbook.
The most challenging aspect about this sculpture was knowing when it was complete. I am happy with the lines, shapes, emphasis and overall form I was able to create with such a rigid material. Bending wire isn’t always easy, but the outcome was worth the struggle. This sculpture shows my personal aesthetic, and conveys the sketch-like quality that I have come to love about drawing. Just like in life, it has imperfections and impurities, but those are the most interesting parts.