06.10.20 - Soft Sculpture

 I started by drawing a minimised version of my stag beetle on the fabric, leaving out a lot of the smaller details such as the antennae and claws, and I think this reduced form is still very recognisable and gives you the overall impression of a beetle. After stitching the outline I turned it inside out and stitched across the middle to make a separation between the abdomen and the front of the beetle, which I thought was successful because it made it seem more 3D and this fold in the middle makes it floppy like a rag doll so it is more interactive and poseable. I think the insect world is often perceived as quite alien and makes people uncomfortable, but I this may be largely due to the media teaching us to feel that way, in the same sense that ‘Jaws’  demonized sharks and created a ubiquitous fear of them across the globe - so I think its it's interesting to challenge where our fears actually originate from. Turning the stag beetle into this softer form makes it seem much less intimidating, there are no spikes or sharp edges, removing any elements of danger and transforming it into something more endearing and toy-like. I think the beetle stands out against the other sculptures because it is an organic form perfected by evolution, while the others are based on inanimate tools, designed and manufactured by humans and have a more geometric appearance.





To expand on the idea of natural vs artificial, I photographed the beetle in various unnatural settings, and I think it is quite a jarring contrast. It makes me imagine an alternative world where animals use modern technology among humans in an advanced futuristic society, but overall I think the pictures give the creature more character and animation. I would also like to photograph it in natural settings and see what difference this change in context makes.

 







I was inspired by the painted and tied cushion from yesterday and used string to deform the shape of the beetle. The way I tied it has split the body into sections and I think this could make an interesting drawing because it reminds me of ‘cubism’ which I learned about on monday - so I could draw the beetle in a more boxy, angular way to reference this.



Girl with mandolin, Picasso 1910 

                                                   






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