Body as a Vessel



The Body as a Vessel (Body)

Chicken wire, plaster, paper mache, cheesecloth, paint, yarn, glass, mesh 

 Honors Studio Art, November 2024


This sculpture portrays the body as a vessel—sometimes full of soul and spirit and sometimes empty. The gouged hole and grooves suggest hands that have dug and pried through the plastered flesh, hinting at a search for something deeper.  The exterior is made from chicken wire, plaster, and paper mache, forming a durable, rigid shell that contrasts with the softness of human skin, emphasizing the artificiality of the body as merely a container. The pink-dyed cheesecloth is draped to add movement and energy, layering depth into the form. I aim to evoke reflection on the search for what lies within–feelings, fulfillment, a purpose. This interpretation is up to the viewer because the hole is filled with various textural materials like mesh, yarn, glass, and the negative space between them.



These are different angles, displaying the color and textures. 


THE PROCESS


The chicken wire base was molded around my body to create a base for the plaster strips to lie on. One problem I encountered was how visible the chicken wire outline was. The form lacks the rounded contours of the body. 
 


I added a paper mache pulp to fill in the divots caused by the chicken wire. I also cleaned up the grooves of the hole because I wanted it to appear like the indentations from the hands. Although the form resembled a body, the white base and plaster caused an unfinished appearance. 

Thus, with a mixture of glue, water, and paint, I draped cheesecloth over the body creating layers and movement. I used color to bring the shadow and details that the white plaster couldn't do. The cloth dried hard. 


Finally, I filled the hold with various materials to make my message and concept stronger. 

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