This is one of the projects in Subject Graphic Design studio, Film to Book, using the video artwork from the previous Project, design and create a hardcopy book.
This artwork uses an orange as a metaphor for the cycle of human life. The first section of the front sculpture shows an embryo, symbolizing the birth of a human being. The next part is a model of a city, representing how people grow up and become integrated into society. After that, there is a carved landscape of forests and a lake, symbolizing nature and suggesting death, as humans eventually return to nature. The final section is a mirror, allowing viewers to see themselves at the end. This creates an interactive element within the installation.
This artwork was sculpted using polymer clay, connected with metal hinges, and painted with acrylic paint. Because the project theme was ‘Film to Book,’ and in my previous assignment ‘Book to Film,’I used oranges as a metaphor for human life, I felt that using an orange as the physical form of the ‘book’ fit the theme very well.
However, if I was to remake this project, I would upgrade my materials and construction method. I would use hot glue to secure the metal hinges to the sculpture, because using strong adhesive, even when small screws are inserted into the sculpture was still not sufficient to firmly hold the hinges in place. I would also choose more professional sculpting tools for shaping the form and use sandpaper for polishing so that the exterior would appear more refined and detailed. Nevertheless, I would still choose polymer clay as the primary material. Unlike air-dry clay, polymer clay must be baked to harden and fix its shape, rather than drying naturally in the air. This allows more flexibility, as the piece can be worked on and sanded over several days before baking.
