Superfluous
EXHIBITION TEXT
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PLANNING SKETCHES
First step to making this project, I made three planning sketches derived from the theme of over-consumerism and commercialism. The composition and materials being used in this project could affect the meaning of this piece, therefore I had to come up with a concept first and then further develop my plan to execute this project. My first idea is to have an old television with a fountain of clothes shooting out of it. This will symbolize commercialism on over-consumerism. My second idea is to have a trash bin with a fountain of clothes shooting out of it to represent the over-consumerism in our society, which is dumping rubbish into the environment. My final idea is to have a dresser with a doll in a glass case and fountain of clothes shooting out of the drawers. The doll would symbolize commercialism and the fountain would represent over-consumerism.
INSPIRATION
For my Mixed-Media " ", the inspiration came from Guerra de la Paz; they are a collaborative duo between Cuban-American artists Alain Guerra and Neraldo de la Paz. The two artists work mainly with castoffs materials from society to make sculpture with the main theme revolving around consumerism and recycling. Their use of used-clothes contribute to the conceptual layer because used-clothes represent the past and history of their owners. By using used products in their work, Guerra de la Paz comments on the over-consumerism and to bring attention to recycling as they bring out aesthetic perspective of recycling by using used-materials. One inspiration from Guerra de la Paz that I will incorporate in my project is the conceptual aspect of their work. Their sculptures mainly focuses on the discussion of consumerism and recycling. I want to create a sculpture that will reflects upon my impact as a consumer to society. One technique inspiration is from “Ascension" by Guerra de la Paz finished in 2009 using found garments. This piece has a gradient from dark to light, which I plan to incorporate into my piece representing the idea of decay.
MATERIALS
REFLECTIONThroughout the mixed media project, I've learned many things after overcoming challenges. For this project, I tried a new way to approach creating this piece; as I went looking for materials for my assemblages, I came up with the concept and match available materials that can convey my concept instead of making a product and come up with a concept later on. This was a flexible way to create artwork to me because it allows the materials to be more adjustable with my concept. Therefore, I had more available materials to choose from. After purchasing all of the materials, I’ve realized that the doll is a little taller than the dresser. I decided to cut the doll up and take its head off, and I also had to revise my concept to match with the doll’s appearance. I also had a tough time with finding clothes with color that would make a smooth gradation from light to dark. To solve this problem, I also had to went into my family’s old clothes and used some of their old garments or socks. The wires made from hangers were stiff and hard, therefore I went to buy a thinner wire to holds the armature together. For this project, I came up with a new way to photograph my process using a white trifold board so it would looks more professional. If I were to start this project over, I would make the assemblage in a bigger scale and maybe try out my other idea.
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EXPERIMENTATIONA few experimentations in this project includes my fist attempt to make an armature for the pile of clothes. For the photographing part of the portfolio, I played with the lighting in different composition to try out how light can impact the main objects. The lighting in this piece required 3 lamps and a projector to illuminate the main subject.
PROCESSI began my project by purchasing materials from Goodwill because I wouldn't waste too much money and also make use of unwanted things for art. For clothes, I sifted through my old clothes and cut them up in small pieces in a gradation from light to dark. I used the wire to build an armature to provide a rigid foundation for the clothes. After the armature is done, I used newspaper as bedding to fill in the negative space of the armature. The black clothes will be hot glued to the bottom of this fountain. The same process is applied to the rest of the fountain to the top with a lighter value. The drawers will be filled with pieces of cloth to the top to give the impression of excessive clothes possession. Since the barbie is taller than the dresser, I had to cut off an inch of its legs and also take off the doll's head. The legs will be hot glued to the glass case. The sale signs will be printed off from the internet and glued to a hard cardboard. They will be hung on top of the glass case just like sale signs in clothing stores. The top origin of the cloth fountain will be placed on the top drawer. After everything is in place, I went back to clean the dresser for presentation.
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CRITIQUE
For this mixed media piece, I plan to make an assemblage. The materials will conclude a wooden dresser, a doll and a fountain of clothes shooting out of a drawer. The doll will be bare and headless inside the glass case of the dresser. This piece will explores the idea of over-consumerism and suggests upon the idea of minimalism. I decided to use a doll being displayed in the glass case because dolls are well-known for its consumerism. Most girls grew up with dolls are being taught the idea of consumerism. There are so many dolls that vary from different size, clothing and even personality. The inspiration of my piece came from a Cuban artist group called Guerra de La Paz. Most of their works are commentary on consumerism and its effects on our environment. I incorporate the materials and the idea from my inspiration into my artwork as I plan to use thrown out clothes to make my piece. From the critique with my classmates, I understand that the appearance of the doll is very important to the meaning it’s conveying; therefore, I decided that this doll will be bare to show that by stripping down a symbol of consumerism, you can begin to see its true value. As the doll is being stripped off of its value, I lightly propose an idea of minimalism. In the back is a fountain of clothes shooting out of a drawer, which once more touches on the subject of over-consumerism and how we are controlled by commercialism. From social media and society expectation, we feel the need to have the newest things, the nicest thing, or the coolest things from popular clothing brands. In general, I have on track with the project. The steps that I will take to complete this project include making a structure for the fountain of clothes, cutting the doll up for display, polishing the dresser, and gluing clothes from a white to dark gradation.
MEANING
This mixed media piece “Superfluous” revolves around the theme of over-consumerism and commercialism with a suggestion of minimalism. I grew up in vietnam, a developing country, and I loved the New year there because it was when my family and I would go out shopping for new clothes. Every year, I would get about four new pairs of outfit and I was happy. I remembered yearning for a bike so that I could ride to school. But at time, my family was only able to afford a bike for my older sister, so I had to rely on my father to give me a ride to school everyday. Sometimes, my father would forgets to pick me up from school so I had to walk home by myself. I’ve been living in America for about five years now. My family is still low-income but my mother tries to afford the best for my sister and me. Now, I have a license and a car to drive; however once in awhile, I would be ungrateful, yearn for better car or clothes and forget that I did not even have a bike once. As a society, many of us have been fed on the idea of consumerism. On television, there are always commercials with celebrities’ endorsement. Once we were walking, we yearned for a bike. Now we have a bike, we yearn for a scooter. Once we have a scooter, we yearn for a car. Once we have a car, we yearn for better car. This cycle goes on because we will always put our “wants” before our “needs”. In this assemblage, the drawers full of clothes with a shooting fountain of clothes symbolize my contribution to over-consumerism. The doll is a symbolism for over-consumerism. Little girls growing up are fed on products of commercialism. Companies make their fortune by satisfying our “wants”; they dress them up in pretty clothes and expensive materials. I made this piece as a small suggestion of minimalism so that we would ask ourselves: do you really need this item the next time you walk through the mall.
ACT CONNECTION
- My piece “Superfluous” has been greatly influenced by my inspiration of Guerra de La Paz. My piece is based on the concept of over-consumerism, which most of Guerra de La Paz’s works are revolve around. I was also inspired by the medium of my inspiration, therefore I decided to use my old clothes for this piece.
- Guerra de La Paz’s overall approach to their works is to comment on over-consumerism and to show us a glimpse of what we are doing to the environment.
- While researching my inspiration, I’ve made a generalization that Alain and Neraldo came from modest background in Cuba where over-consumerism is a luxury.
- The central idea around my inspirational research is over-consumerism.
- I've made an inference about Guerra de La Paz that their works aren't criticizing over-consumerism in our society but rather to show us the picture from their perspective of what we are doing to the environment.
Work Cited
- Gallery, Saatchi. "Guerra de la Paz." Guerra de la Paz - Artist's Profile - The Saatchi Gallery. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2017.
- "Guerra de la Paz." Art Works for Change. N.p., 10 Nov. 2016. Web. 15 Jan. 2017.
- Japour, Anthony. "Arts Miami." Arts Miami - SocialMiami. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 201
- Paz, Guerra De la. "Guerra de la paz." Guerra de la paz. N.p., 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 15 Jan. 2017.