This semester I am planning on creating a show inspired by the four elements of the earth: Water, Fire, Earth and Air. It will incorporate the components of photography, video, embellished furniture pieces and sculptural clothing. There will be up to two photos per element. This could mean possibly incorporating a homemade light box, but each photo will be framed. The framed photos will be digital and may be transparent for the light box. The furniture might have cyano photographs imbedded, actual elements, or a representation of it. The clothing will be handmade and be used in the production of the video and photographs. The clothing will be created as a sculptural piece, to eventually stand alone in the exhibition. The video will hold the entire story while the photos become almost still shots of the video, but video of singular elements will also be incorporated . The musical piece, Cavalia from Cirque de Soleil's, Cavallia, is what has inspired the entire work to become cohesive. The overall idea and story will be meticulously thought through when creating each piece of the collection to embody the particular element. The use of professional models and possibly dancers will be used in the video and photos. People that inspire me to create this look are Elsa Schiaparelli, Annie Leibovitz, Richard Avedon.
You may already have thought of these, but masks/headdress and hairstyles and props (such as a jack-o-lantern) and maybe body art could be used, as well. I could definitely see this making some interesting clothing. You may already be doing this, but I suggest you do some concept drawings. Also, for fire you might start with a firefighter suit and add on to it, or something that looks like one.
ReplyDeleteThe photographers you are referencing often place the human figure as the main conceptual and visual focal point. In some of Leibovitz’s work the person seems to be in a private and lived-in environment. There is a sense of connection between the person and their space. While other times, the person is placed in a more stark and simple area to create an entertaining and confident design. I look forward to seeing how you 3d textile pieces will react to the space we enter, as well as the environments you will photograph in.
ReplyDeleteI am very interested in your project and in the ways that you will blend the figure and the environment. I am excited to hear more about the materials that you will be using for specific elements- water in particular. *If you need someone to do underwater modeling, I was a competitive swimmer for 12 years and a state champion a few times, so I'd like to think that I can do some graceful things underwater. -- I agree with Matt that you should do concept drawings. Drawing will be a good way for you actually blend the figure with the back ground elements to plan for the photographs. I would be very interested in seeing your ideas in a visual manner to better understand the full idea that you are going for.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.moma.org/collection/object.php?object_id=94766
ReplyDeleteThe incorporation of both wet and dry mediums in Kenyan artist Wangechi Mutu’s collage might be conceptually similar to how you are trying to symbolically and emotionally recreate the seasons. Like your clothes, your sketches might include different found textures, so as to act not just as diagrams or preparations for the sculptures but as completely developed seasonal concepts. I posted this artist to Jordan.