Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Visual Symbols

 

Preservation 
clay, ink, acrylic paint 
5.5" x 3" x 2"

Full Angle 2

Full Angle 3

Detail


Fertility
clay, ink
5.7" x 3" x .8"

Full Angle 2

Full Angle 3

                                                                               Detail

The two air-dry sculptures entitled Preservation and Fertility in turn were inspired by Anastassia Zamaraeva and other indigenous clay artists. I intended to visually communicate both content and meaning through two unscrutinized topics that have often come up in today’s politics. I wanted to focus on my use of colors in both of the sculptures: Preservation has a notable emphasis on both the color of the hair and the scissors, along with the earrings and the gold accents. In doing so, I pulled attention to her features and hair. On the other hand, Fertility bears both the colors orange and purple, which represent feminine strength and fertility. I felt the work was lacking a general knowledge of clay, as this was my first time working with said medium. I would love to keep exploring the possibilities of air-dry clay and how to further manipulate it. 



In-process



Research #1: Marian Symbolism of the Crescent Moon

    The so called Luna, half moon, or sickle of the moon, also waning and waxing moon, is a sign of fertility, related to life and death, and thus a popular symbol in many religions. It pinpoints changing seasons, ebb and tide (and related inundations as harbingers of fertility), and the feminine menstrual cycle.

Navajo woman helping her husband braid his hair in Monument Valley, Arizona, Navajo Tribal Park
Research #2: For many Native Americans, hair tells a life story

    In a culture where hair has been a symbolic ode to identity and spirituality, Indigenous hairstyling is more than an aesthetic – it's a sacred preservation of history.

Girl smiling
Research #3: The Significance of the Color Orange

    On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the color orange is used to represent a brighter future, free from violence against women and girls.



Unknown Artist

Anastassia Zamaraeva

                                                                     Charlotte Sigurdson
                                                 https://www.instagram.com/p/CjNijXVg4Yf/ 



No comments:

Post a Comment

A Natural History of The Senses Relief Sculpture

Overwhelming Confinement spray foam, acrylic paint, glow-in-the-dark paint, chicken wire 36" x 38"' x 10.5" Full, from an...