Sculpture - pleated materials

 

I have chosen a ball gown of black velvet and pleated linen. The black velvet bodice with petalled waistline, the full skirt of finely pleated linen gauze.

This dress is from the wardrobe of Anne Bullitt designed by Sybil Connolly and is in the museum of style icons in the Newbridge Silverwear visitor centre.

I began my project by researching the fashion history of the 50's glamour and the use of the pleat within the clothing styles. I then focused on Sybil Connolly's creations.

Sybil Connolly was a pioneering designer in Ireland and one of the first to have international success. She was among a group of Irish designers in the 1950's and 60's  who's designs were inspired by native fabric's turning them into high fashion garments.

Firstly I started by analysing the dress I had chosen and I wanted to focus on the pleat's as a starting point. I decided to create the pleat's using different materials which hold certain aesthetics of the dress.

I thought about what materials would fold, pleat, hold its form and how I could manipulate each material. I started by pleating tinfoil. I believe this was the most successful as it held  it's form and allowed me to transform easily into a 3 dimensional piece.

 

 

I continued using paper, which pleated easily. Paper tears easy so there's no stretch, so I felt restricted.

I also used black sacks which allowed for flex and bend.

I researched artists such as Richard Sweeney, Deepa Panchamia and David Orozco. I was interested in how each artist captures a sense of movement and elegant curve's.

 

 

Sculpure

This is a short clip of a clothes piece that I created to examine the restriction of movement and the synchronized movement required.

 

 

 

 

 

Sculpture

This is a short video looking the curtailment of movement and also invasion of ones privacy. I sewed two tops together leaving all arms loose yet still connected back to back. There movements become more synchronised and they are more aware of there surroundings cause every movement reflects on the other person.

 

 

Sculpture





 

This is my partner piece to my chosen object ( Blue Maquette for an evening dress) by Sybil Connolly from the collection at the Hunt Museum. When analysing the dress piece the first thing I noticed was the pleating and layering. I want to use a material that would hold the structure of the pleat and also allow for layer upon layer so I chose newspaper print. I wanted it to be of large scale to create a mass of layering. I didn't want to add colour because I don't believe it would add to the piece. I wanted to add a small amount of light to reflect the paper just as the light hits the blue maquette dress in the Hunt Museum.

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

Sculpture

 

 

 Over the last few days I have been adding to my pleated paper sculpture. I want it to have a layer effect as well as volume. I had considered spraying with colour but I don't think it will add to the piece so I'm going to leave the paper the neutral colour it is. I want these piece to be view from eye level.

 

 

 

 

 

Sculpture

Over the last few day's I have been working on my new project - Sculpture to fix to the body. The issues I have been looking at are invasion, restriction of the body, support. I am also looking at the curtailment of movement because of the restriction of the clothes and addition of people - placed on the body. The artists that I have been looking at is Lucy Orta, Erwin Wurm. I like the way Erwin wurn's sculpture seems bizarre looking with unexpected relationships with everyday objects they seem quiet humorous, clear and fast. I'm also interested in Lucys Orta's  work she examines social bonds within the communities and the relationship between the individual and the environment. Within the image below I have created a prop to examine the relationship between people and how we feel an intrusion of privacy. I also want to see how we function and how we are restricted in our movement.  

 

 

 

Sculpture- Two day project images

These are a few images of my leg pieces from my two day project in sculpture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sculpture

Over the last few weeks I have been researching the work of Sybil Connolly, her life, inspiration, fashion her love for fabrics, table wear and interior.  I explored the textiles she used such as tweed, crochet and lace in striking, vibrant colours. Her trademark fabric was pleated handkerchief linen. Other artists that I have been looking at are David Orozco. He is interested in the intersection of handcraft and mathematics which has led him to design a series of beautiful pieces working with folded paper. Another artist I was interested in is Alice Channel work. Especially artificial intelligence, 2012 which is a digital print on accordion pleated heavy crepe de china. I have also found another artist called Richard Sweeney, whom through the manipulation of paper he creates sculptural form. These pieces are curved and pleated sculptures, which were hand folded through the method of wet folding.
 Throughout the last few days I have continued to make my sculptural piece. Athough the process of folding can be slow I'm sure it will be an effective way of creating a sculpture.

sculpture

 

The information I have gathered form analysing my object has gave me a starting point. The material I have chosen is paper print which is easily manipulated. I have began to layer the paper structures together and gathering on one end to keep the piece secure. I am exploring the pleating and layering of my object.