Images

I would like to present some brief information about the images that I intend to use on my sculpture.  Using a chronological time line for reference I will begin with the Oak Tree.

6AD -Oak Tree. The significance of this is that the name Derry which was derived from the Gaelic word doire which means  a grove of oak trees. 

1613-Walled City.  In 1613 the walls were built around Derry. The old walled city is on the West Bank of the River Foyle and is spanned by two bridges.

1790 – Craigavon Bridge.   The first Craigavon Bridge was a wooden bridge that was built in 1790 and assembled in America.  It was transported to Derry and positioned in the Bridge Street Area about 90 m north of the present bridge.  It was built from 1789 -1791, between Bridge Street and Fountain Hill.  The structure allowed for a drawbridge as the inhabitants of Strabane had navigational rights to the River.

 

1830 – Shirt Factories The economy of Derry was based significantly on the textile industry until relatively recently.  The history of shirt making in the city dates back as far as 1831 and is said to have been stated by William Scott and his family who first exported shirts to Glasgow

1845- Famine – Derry Port. During the 18^th and 19^th Century Derry Port became an important embarkation point for Irish Emigrants setting out for North America.  Some of these founded the colonies of Derry and Londonderry in the state of New Hampshire.  During the famine it became the destination for migrants fleeing areas more severely affected by the Irish Potato Famine.  One renowned famous ship was that of Wm McCorkell & Co Ltd known as the ‘Green Yacht from Derry’.

1853- Sewing Machine – The first sewing machine was invented in 1853 and was a major tool in the developing industry of Derry/L’Derry.

1900- Derry – Strabane Railway.   The last stage of the LMS Railway line was opened in 1900.  It ran from the Victoria Road in Derry to Strabane.  Derry was an intricate part of the railway system and it was vital not only to the transport of people but also goods. 

1932- Amelia Earhart.  Amelia was the first woman pilot to cross the Atlantic.  She set off from Newfoundland heading for Britain, but landed way off course, in an open field in Culmore in Derry.

1960 – Altnagelvin Hospital.  This was the first hospital built in the United Kingdom after the Second World War.  It consised of  10 floors and was the tallest building in Derry/L’derry at this time.  The first patient was registered in 1960.

Sketches in relation to development of the sculpture:

 

The casing of the spine will be made from fibre glass.

It will be white with viewing windows at various intervals from top to bottom. 

The casing will have been painted with white thermocratic paint.

When touched, bodily heat will make visible various images of Derry/L’Derry.

Firstly  I will have a fibre class head.

Next LED Brain wired to the membrane keypad

Finally for safety reasons and to be weather proof, a poly carbonate dome top will be placed on top.

The brain colour will activate by touch at various part of the body

This image shows the spine in which I hope to incorporate a lighting system. 

This lighting system will include  different colours representing the various messages moving back and forth to the brain.

This will be a visual depiction of what happens within the human body. 

These components will be made from poly carbon so that they can be visible throughout.

A linking mechanism will also be made from poly carbonate which will allow the wires necessary for LED to be transferred through them.  Again they will be visible throughout.

My initial thoughts were to create my sculpture out of iron and aluminium.  I thought that Iron would be suitable due to its weight and strength and that these would provide a more secure structure.      I have decided that this is no longer feasible due to its expense and the fact that the elements can cause this to rust even after treatment.   Also there could be health and safety issues in relation to iron and electrics. As an alternative, I am now going to focus on fibre glass.  I am now in the process of researching the use of fibre glass for such a sculpture.  There are benefits for   using this material in that it is a strong material, smooth material and a much cheaper material than iron.  Considering the budgetary constraints in relation to this project, fibre glass will be a much more feasible material to work with.

Many different types of sculpture have been achieved using fibre glass, see some examples below:

On Tuesday I met with Justin and presented six of my ideas.  After our discussion I had a clearer picture of what I wanted to include in my design.  I took specifics from all six designs to include in my final piece.  An example of this would be an interactive element which would allow individuals to touch the sculpture.  Their touch would light the associated part of the brain portraying the sensory and motor elements of the brain.  I also would like to include a beating heart in my design. 

Another element that I wished to consider was the inclusion of water in the sculpture, water being so important to the existence of life.  However, after discussing this with officials from the hospital, it would seem that this will not be possible due to the risk of legionnaire’s disease and the protection of infection control.

At this stage I have to consider the specific use of materials, tools and scale.  To reduce possibilities and to encourage specifics I will construct a list of probable inclusions. This will be refined as I move on with the process.

Head

·         No Face – sphere like shape

·         Visual with lights

·         Spinal element, no neck

·         Light pad to represent the brain

·         Windows – pictures ???

Body

·         Visible in the middle

·         Patterns inside and outside

·         Windows – images  (Derry/ L’Derry or body parts)????????- or images as part of pattern     

·         Lights in the spinal column

·         Structure within a structure

·         Suitable material for interaction

·         Thermochromism paint on outer part – touch giving change.  Heat will allow a picture or pattern to develop.

Heart

·         Projected out

·         Beat or flash representing the heart beat. ????????

Images of Derry inside the windows / or on pattern?

·         Oak Tree

·         Swallow

·         Walls

·         Bridges

·         Shirt Factory

·         Cathedrals

·         Free Derry Corner

·         Holly Well Trust

·         Think historical rather than political.

Structure

·         No rain pockets – infection control

·         Fibre Glass

·         Easy cleaned and cheap  

Scale

·         Height of person 5– 5.6ft

·         Width 45cms =450mm

·         Sides = 25 or 30cms

·         Circumference = 140cms

·         Consider height in relation to the visuals in the brain etc

·         Plinth will be in a curve to allow wheelchair access

·         Securing the sculpture?

I have begun my 3D model. 

Essay

What makes a sculpture appealing?

In my opinion sculptures should be emotive; they should say something to the viewer and attract their attention.  From my knowledge and research I know that this is not always the case and this is why I decided to do some additional examination of what makes a sculpture emotive. 

Emotion and Cognition

Norman (2004) tells us that there are three major dimensions to any design and these are visceral, behavioural and reflective.  Visceral concerns itself with appearances, behavioural with the effectiveness and pleasure of use, whilst reflective considers the rationalisation and intellectualisation of the product.  Subsequent to this, Norman highlights that these three concepts are further interweaved with emotions and cognition.

‘Emotions are inseparable from and a necessary part of cognition.”(Norman p7 2004)

It would seem that everything that we do and everything that we think is wrapped in emotion and much of this we are not conscious off.  Our emotions guide the way we think and how we behave,  whilst  allowing us to make quick decisions.  Cognition interprets and understands the world around us.

As previously stated I recognise that my sculpture must be emotive to appeal to the target  audience.   How can I make my sculpture ooze emotion, remembering that feeling is reflective of our personal experiences, associations and memories.  To develop this concept further I feel that it is necessary for me to consider sculpture that is in the public arena at this time and give thought to how it makes me feel.

Public Art

This is a term which refers to works of art in various forms that has been planned for a specific intention of being established in the public domain. This art is usually outside and accessible to all abilities and disabilities.  Public Art the term is recognisable to all professionals in the world of Art. It signifies a specific work in practice with implications of site specificity and community involvement. Historically memorials and monuments have been examples of public art and subsequently, architecture can also belong to this field.  More recently, public art has also been seen as street furniture, lighting and graffiti.  This type of art can also be, street theatre, dance, possessions etc that are taking place in the public domain.

Sculpture intended as public art is often constructed of durable, low maintenance substances to avoid the affects of weather and vandalism.  It is usually installed with the authorisation of the Government or body that owns the land and for some Governments they encourage its creation with a financial incentive.

Like Public Art:

Bent of Mind by Tony Cragg

Virgin Mother  by Damien Hirst, Lever House plaza, New York City.

By Antony Gormley at White Cube in London

Dislike Public Art:

Claes Oldenburg and Coesje van Bruggens Bethlehemkirch-Platz, Mauerstrasse, Berlin

by ???

Public Art and Politics

Public Art has often been used for political ends both nationally and internationally.  “The most extreme and widely discussed manifestations of this remain the use of art as propaganda within totalitarian regimes coupled with simultaneous suppression of dissent.  The approach to art seen in Joseph Stalin’s Soviet Union and Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution in China stand as representative.”

    Joseph Stalin        

                                                                                                                

Mao Zedong

At a local level the following sculptures have also caused some disagreement and emotional debate.

UDR man sculpture.

Red Hand for Ulster sculpture on ground of Odyssey.

 

Consider target audience.

As a designer I have made myself aware of my target audience however, I am realistic and acknowledge that it would be impossible to create one single sculpture that will appeal to all, considering the ages, abilities and states of well being involved.  I also acknowledge that my work will be one of many sculptures positioned around the hospital site and making my work appeal to the majority will be my challenge.

My sculpture will be designed specifically for this site.  Site specific art is created to exist in a specific place and consideration must be given to the location in all aspects of planning and creation. The term site specific art was promoted by California artis, Robert Irwin.  However, the term was first used in the mid 1970’s by sculptors such as, Lloyd Hamroal and Athena Tacha, who had started public commissions for large urban sites. “See Peter Frank site sculptor, Art News Oct 1975.”  Site specific Art can also include the landscape so can involve an element of land art.

Land Art

Land Art (Earthworks coined by Robert Smithson) is an art movement which emerged in the United States in the late 1960’s. It highlights the link between the landscape and the work of art and is an art form that is created in nature using nature’s materials.  This type of sculpture is different from public art as it is not placed on the landscape but the landscape is the means of their creation.

'Cells of Life' at Jupiter Artland, Edinburgh, by Charles Jencks

Contemporary Design

‘The very existence of the terms fashion, style, mode and vogue demonstrates the fragility of the reflective side of design.  What is liked today may not be liked tomorrow.” (p58)  In considering this notion, why is it that some work stands the test of time?  ……………………………………

Anthropomorphism

Norman has further enlightened me to the understanding that the principles of designing pleasurable, effective interaction between people and products are the very same ones that support pleasurable and effective interaction between people.  Through our cognition and emotion we interpret things and this ability is made possible by a human mechanism called anthropomorphism.  We are in-fact anthropomorphic towards anything that we interact with and this allows us to we interpret things with emotional judgement and empathy. Subsequent to this, is the fact that if a design is pleasing to the eye and fun, we will interpret it and react positively to it, whilst, if a design is un-sightly and refuses to work properly, it has a negative effect on us.

The Addition of Sound.

For some individuals, the incorporation of sound into a design is most important.  Sound can act as a conductor of information that the eye is unaware of.  Consider for a moment a sculpture which contains a wind chime like device.  This device will alert those at hand that a wind is blowing and from what direction, in other words, sound gives us additional information about things that we cannot see while our eyes are busy elsewhere. However as a deaf student with a cochlear implant, I have a limited awareness of sound. I would favour the addition of sound in my sculpture but due to my limited knowledge of the sounds I hear, I would find it difficult to select sounds which would be appropriate for my work.   

The Accessibility of Design

“A major part of the design process ought to be the study of just how the objects being designed are to be used.” (p154  The design of everyday  things)

Not only do designers have to consider their target audience, they also have to make sure that their designs are interactive for all who want to explore them.  This scenario poses another dimension to the design process, accepting the fact that we are not all the same height, shape, strength and state of well being, how can we ensure that all get equal benefit from the product. 

“Fixed Solutions will invariably fail with some people, flexible solutions at least offer a chance for those with special needs.)” p164 The design of Everyday things)

My design will allow interaction by all of my target audience as it will ??????????????????

Books used – The Design of Everyday Things Donald A. Norman MIT Press 1998 USA

Emotional Design, Why we love (or hate) Everyday Things,  Donald A. Norman  Basic Books New York 2004