Delicacy is beautiful

This week I have decided to develop my wool root sculpture and to create a more finely planned work with more visual aspects. I decided to focus on the delicacy of blooming flowers as secrets themselves are delicate issues that bloom in the public. I looked at different types of flowers and buds to use as my subject matter but found one suiting plant which is the lotus flower. This flower is visually stunning with many layers and meaning.
The lotus flower symbolises purity and divine birth, which in actually fate relates to my theme, as releasing secrets may purify oneself. I chose to create my own version of a white lotus flower through wire, tissue paper, invisible tape and a light piece. I love the idea of light being used in sculptures, especially when its found sheening through tissue paper. Lanterns have always inspired me, even as a child I found them to be so magical. I created the lotus flower's leaves in wire and cover them with white tissue paper with tape and then layered these leaves on top of each other to give the piece a 3d effect. I then covered the light structure with tissue paper so it would flow in with the leaves. I found the piece to be visually effective while set in the dark but when in the light it hadnt got the mysterious and delicate effect I was looking for. Although the tissue paper didnt completely statisfy my visual concept, I did get some great photographs of it shining in the dark which i find highly pleasing.

I spoke with Kieran shortly after creating the structure and we spoke about creating small delicate flowers from porcelain clay which I thought would work extremely well with my rooted wool sculpture. So off I went to the ceramic department where Kieran showed me how to created such intricate flowers; using oil, porcelain and a few inventive techniques. The absolute skill and beauty of creating such gentle blossoms and leaves is fascinating. I took my time in creating these porcelain pieces so that i could capture their true gracefulness. So heres a sneaky peak at the pieces which i will be firing in the coming days. Creating these flowers has really gotten me excited about creating my sculpture as they positively reflect my visual concept.

-Theresa