A level, Unit 3: Response to Art (current project)

In this project I had been inspired by student's work, displayed in Somerset House over the summer. Each member had created their own torso out of plaster and then decorated them with their hobbies/interests or embellishments.

Student's work on display at Somerset House Summer 2010

I liked these pieces because they had an aged, romantic quality which made them appear to have stepped out of a classical painting.

I wanted to produce similar works, but extending what they had started to explore.

Alternating between using a fully sized mannequin and a John Paul Gaultier bottle I explored different ways of creating the torsos.

Papier-mache with Tissue paper, producing a fragile quality

using natural items, autumn leaves

Using strips of words and quotes

Because I felt the torsos had a romantic, narrative quality I also started to incorporate story-telling references with strips of words and quotes of poetry and looking at pre-Raphaelite art-work which all have a narrative or theme which I translated to my work using the details, colour and characterisation.

Torsos inspired by;
Lady of Shallott by Waterhouse
The Flood by Millais
Ophelia by Waterhouse