unfired clay, National Geographic Magazine
I chose this hand gesture, due to the wide range of meanings it embodies. I used clay to create the doubled form, and throughout the process of examining this gesture, I delved into the meaning and origins behind it. Most material I found spoke of its Hawaiian origins, and relations to the ocean and surfer culture. I decided to capture that in my piece by applying torn strips of images of the ocean I found in National Geographic magazines. I also placed an ad I found regarding the desire to visit Hawaii on the bottom of my piece, to further emphasize this fascination with the culture, and draw to the sunny ocean. I layered the strips according to colour, to create the illusion of the wav
I chose this hand gesture, due to the wide range of meanings it embodies. I used clay to create the doubled form, and throughout the process of examining this gesture, I delved into the meaning and origins behind it. Most material I found spoke of its Hawaiian origins, and relations to the ocean and surfer culture. I decided to capture that in my piece by applying torn strips of images of the ocean I found in National Geographic magazines. I also placed an ad I found regarding the desire to visit Hawaii on the bottom of my piece, to further emphasize this fascination with the culture, and draw to the sunny ocean. I layered the strips according to colour, to create the illusion of the wav
I was drawn to this position of the hand, as I was fascinated by how versatile it is. It has come up in many various contexts throughout my childhood. It can mean the number 6 to me, or even a phone, or hang loose, also another way to borderline pretentiously look “chill”. It was also one of my favourite things to do in family photos, to sneakily put my hands up behind somebody’s head (usually my brother until he grew taller than me). With this project, what immediately came to mind for me was Will Kurtz and Nina Levy. Levy was an obvious choice due to the doubling nature of this assignment. I thought of Will Kurtz, because I appreciated his manner of drawing attention to the mundane or through an also mundane and practical material - recycled newspaper. The playful take on his subject mirrors my feelings towards this hand gesture, and I would like to apply or engage that subtle play.
I would like to pursue a more abstract representation for the center of the piece (where the middle three fingers and palms are, and I would pursue a high level of representation for the pinky and the thumb. My pinky has always been the butt of many jokes as it is terrifyingly crooked. So in the manner of Will Kurtz, I would like to highlight the identity and character of a normal object. One may see a pinky, but upon closer examination, follow its unique shapes and bumps that make my pinky uniquely mine.
By doubling in scale, it draws your attention towards this seemingly innocent gesture. Due to the manipulation of the hand shape, it conjures up many other images for people, and by doubling it, it looks like a bust. Also due to how I casted my hand, it naturally lends itself to looking like something that would be mounted on the wall. Drawing from the versatility of this gesture, I would like to mount it on a headboard, similar to those used by taxidermists, and create a playful statement that gives this gesture the glory it deserves, in how many contexts it has come through to me in my life.
I would like to pursue a more abstract representation for the center of the piece (where the middle three fingers and palms are, and I would pursue a high level of representation for the pinky and the thumb. My pinky has always been the butt of many jokes as it is terrifyingly crooked. So in the manner of Will Kurtz, I would like to highlight the identity and character of a normal object. One may see a pinky, but upon closer examination, follow its unique shapes and bumps that make my pinky uniquely mine.
By doubling in scale, it draws your attention towards this seemingly innocent gesture. Due to the manipulation of the hand shape, it conjures up many other images for people, and by doubling it, it looks like a bust. Also due to how I casted my hand, it naturally lends itself to looking like something that would be mounted on the wall. Drawing from the versatility of this gesture, I would like to mount it on a headboard, similar to those used by taxidermists, and create a playful statement that gives this gesture the glory it deserves, in how many contexts it has come through to me in my life.