Body Sculpture Happenings (PROGRESS)

Constructing the fingers:

Paper was wrapped around the fingers to capture their shape. Self-drying clay was coated over the fingers to hold the paper together, and electrical and making tape died with black ink were wrapped around to structure to give it a skin-like, rotting effect to simulate gangrene.

Constructing the blood capsules:

Multiple models were made (two failed attempts pictured below). The struggle was to find a  structure that was waterproof and would hold the fake blood solution in, while having a film thin enough to be able to be penetrated with a pin/ sewing needle (to simulate taking a blood sugar). The final version was a cap made of self-drying clay with a small hole at the bottom for a pin to fit through. The inside was coated with a clear matte to hold the blood solution (made of water, corn syrup, and red gauche) in.

Preparing the performance:

I died my fingers in a red gauche to simulate blood, an effect that would be revealed towards the end of the performance.

Memento (PROGRESS)

Architecture Relief (PROGRESS)

Soap Carving (PROGRESS)

Masking Tape shoe Construction (PROGRESS)

Soap Carving Changes (PROGRESS)

Carving's Condition Before Changes:

• Change 1: Dropped from the second floor of Wiley Art Building (Subtractive)

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After:

• Change 2: Boiled in a teapot filled with water (Subtractive)
• NOTE: In the time between changes one and two, the hippo's jaw broke off of the carving during transportation and could not be recovered. The damaging of the jaw was due to the drop from change one.

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After:

• Change 3: Sprinkled chamomile leaves over the carving (Additive) 
• NOTE: This was done immediately after change two, while the surface of the soap was still liquidized, so that the leaves would stick to the soap independently.

Before:

After:

• Change 4: Drizzled in red paint (Additive)
• NOTE: In order to get the paint to mix into the soap, the carving was wrapped in a paper towel (to keep the red paint from damaging the floor), and kicked down four flights of stairs.

Before:

After:

• Change 5: Steeped in boiling water with two bags of black tea leaves (Additive)
• Note: I considered this process additive due to the additional stain of the black tea leaves on the surface of the soap.

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After:

• Change 6: Wrapped in a paper bag and slammed on a carpet floor 20 times (Subtractive)

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After:

• Change 7: Beaten with a comb (Subtractive)

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After:

• Change 8: Driven over 5 times with a car (Subtractive)
• Note: To keep from ruining the car wheel, the soap was wrapped in a paper towel. It had also recently rained before this process was done. The pavement was still wet, which helped the soap stay together despite the pressure of the car wheel.

Before:

After:

• Change 9 (FINAL): Frozen overnight in a cup of water, thawed, and removed (Additive & Subtractive)
• NOTE: I considered the first portion of this process additive due to addition of mass from the ice and its impact on the overall structure of the carving. The second portion of this process was additive due to the thawing of the ice, which eroded the surface of the soap before it was removed.

Before:

After:

Paper Shoe Mockup: Converse Model