Sculpture Studio Spring 2012

Project 4: Self Designed
Intention Statement

When presented with the opportunity to create a self-designed sculpture, I knew I wanted to create something that was a physical representation of a subject that I felt strongly about. The month of April, in which this project was developed, is Assault Awareness month. Specifically, sexual assault awareness, but I wanted to create a sculpture that encompassed any form of assault. I wanted to create a representation of the human form and add details that alluded to both the physical and the psychological effects of assault on the body and mind.

When creating the form, I wanted it to be ambiguous in gender, as assault can happen to anyone, regardless if they are male or female. The form consists of just a torso, no arms nor head. For the torso to have no arms represents the inability of the victim to fight back against the assault and their assailant. In addition, having no head leaves the form unidentifiable. I did not want the form to be recognizable as a single person, but instead wanted the viewer to feel that this body could be from anyone they know, or even someone they do not.

Within the torso, the heart is exposed to the viewer. For me, the exposure of this delicate organ symbolizes fragility. However, it is held back by a pseudo-cage created by real bones. The heart, which is also the universal symbol of love, is being protected, though by a delicate means, while at the same time, it is being held back, out of reach. This speaks to the psychological aspect of the sculpture.

For the skin color of the form, I created a tannish-pink color similar to real skin color. Then I applied a reddish-brown stain, darkening the skin color, as if to replicate abrasions. I then added dark splotches of brown on various areas of the torso, similar to bruises as they finally begin to fade from the flesh.

To cover the form, I chose a thin muslin fabric. This fabric is semi-transparent, which allowed some detail from the painting beneath to be seen. It represents the clothing that is worn to disguise the physical damage, but reveals that the damage still remains. I cut the fabric into 1 ½ inch strips, which I wrapped around the form, leaving several gaps between the strips so that the painted surface of the form would be clearly visible. By binding the form with these strips, I wanted to give the impression of the form being bound, held back.

On top of the fabric, I splattered three different colors of watered down paint across the form. I also swiped little touches of paint on various parts of the form. I chose these colors to symbolize the degeneration of what was once pure.

Diagonally across the abdomen of the form is a section of red satin cording, stitching two strips of muslin together while leaving the surface beneath visible. I chose the red color of the cording as to signify violence. Because the stitching leads down from the heart and across the form, I wanted to signify how assault encompasses the entire form. In addition, this stitching across the segment of the form represents the victim being ‘torn apart,’ as if unsure about the situation they are in.

Though this finished project differs from my original idea, I think the sculpture I created still achieves the goals I determined with my original design. I believe that the viewer will be able to recognize this form as someone who has suffered, but is still managing to survive despite the horror and violence that they have and may continue to face.