my role in this project
Responsible for conceptual design, modeling design, material selection, physical testing, on-site exhibition design
This is the first installation work I completed, expressing my confusion about where my life was going after graduating from university.
Source of inspiration.
My inspiration comes from angels and demons, namely bats and bald sea eagles. By observing the various flying dynamics of these two animals, I extracted their flying stages, such as waiting to fly, taking off, flying, gliding, etc., to imply the ups and downs in people’s lives after making different choices in their life. The egg shape core implies our universal origin. The different choices we make as humans throughout our lives lead to different consequences. But this does not affect our nature.
Part one: drawing sketches
Wings of the demons：
Extracted the characteristics of wings of the bats. I chose a rather fierce and bony look. Highlighting the characteristics of bones and membranes.
Two design solutions of the wings of the angels:
The characteristics of bald sea eagle wings are extracted, simplified and artistically processed. In the end, I chose the solution with clean lines: The shape is smooth and, representing the kindness and gentleness of the angels. The transparent white possessed by the clay after firing shows the holy characteristics of the angels.
Part two: making of the wings
Use high-hardness sludge to make sculptures as templates.
After making 8 pairs, I made plaster mold.
Mixing the clay.
Wait for the plaster mold to dry out and fill the mold with clay.
Collecting the shaped clay.
Wait until the clay is completely dry, putting them into the kiln; burning them at 1250° for 8 hours to cool down naturally.
Finished works.
Choosing of the material: Clay from Dehua I found that the color of the clay from Dehua after firing is rather translucently white and seems otherworldly, a perfect material for the image of the angels. Also, the strong plasticity of the clay from dehua makes it easier for me to form the radian that I want for the wings.
Part three: making of the eggs
Drawing of the size of the eggs.
Fabrication process: formed by digital cutting. Material: African zebra wood with clear textures.
After the digital cutting is completed, I polished off the protruding parts at both ends.
Finished work.
Part four: assemble process
The wooden eggs and and ceramic wings were fixed by a 3mm iron stick and glue.
Making of 40 individual units.
I set five lines in a rectangular frame, and each line is composed of eight units.
display of the individual units
The picture above shows the four states of the wings of the angels: at first (born), growing (youth), flying (middle-aged), gliding (old )
The picture below shows the four states of the wings of the devils: at first (born), growing (youth), flying (middle-aged), gliding (old )
In the actual assembling process, I also used half angel wing -half demon wing to express this rather chaotic state.
exhibition
WHERE SHOULD I GO exhibited at the Academic Lecture Hall of South China University of Technology July 2017 This work won the first place among all graduation project in my department and was sent to participate in the national college competition.
WHERE SHOULD I GO exhibited at the tower of Guangzhou July 2017
award
Won the Bronze Award of Xu Qin Song Creation Competition.