VISUAL ARTS

YEAR 10 SCULPTURE REFLECTION 

For the beginning of Term 1, we started on our wire sculptures inspired by Giacometti, an artist famous for his figurative sculptures that are known for being thin and elongated to symbolise fragility and loneliness due to his experiences in World War 2. We had to create a Figure in Motion, capturing the essence of moving in a sculpture, whilst ensuring that the human figure had accurate human anatomical proportions. 

We started with a single wire to create the basic frame of the sculpture, then continued to wrap around the figure to start to resemble muscles and joints, and eventually a human. When asked to choose a pose for the sculpture, I choose a dance shared between lovers. Although it was hard to include specific details in the artwork, it was important to remember that it was the form of the sculpture that mattered, it was a moment captured encapsulated in a figure, and not an artwork suitable with a lot of details as it could end up tacky and confusing. We then spray painted the figure to our liking. For me, I chose white for the dress of the lady to represent a wedding dress. 

After the wire sculpture, we proceeded to make a continuous wire self-portrait, it was difficult to capture the details as the wire was hard to manipulate, and similarly to the wire sculpture, it was the form, line and overall shape that mattered, and not an enormous amount of detail. Some of us nailed the wire portrait to a stand, while others simply thread it through the hole of the stand. It was a weird experience doing a portrait of ourselves in wire, but it was a nice way to wrap up our unit on wire related artwork. 

We have an upcoming excursion to Hosier Lane and the Outsiders Exhibition, an exhibition focusing on urban contemporary art, often exploring themes of identity, rebellion and reinterpreting traditional art forms. It brings together a group of artists who challenge conventional art by blending graffiti, street art and fine art techniques. Before going on the excursion, we spent a lesson researching a piece of art in the exhibition and the artist. I was researching Kid Zoom’s Girl with the Pearl Earring (2013) which is an interpretation of Vermeer’s famous painting, highlighting how urban artists engage with traditional masterpieces in a new and expressive way. The artists in the Outsiders exhibition blend tradition with modern techniques, drawing from classical, Indigenous and many more cultural influences to explore identity and heritage. Others tackle consumerism, urbanisation and politics, criticising society. 

Year 10 Sculpture offers a plethora of opportunities and experiences that are unique that many of us would not have been able to explore normally. Year 10 Sculpture pushes us to think creatively about our artwork and how we want it expressed and presented. Often relating to self-reflection and inner self, it allows us to think on a deeper level what we want our art to represent. Overall, it offers a unique experience and allows for a deeper exploration of ourselves. 

Charmaine Lee

Sculpture student & Year 10 Visual Arts Captain