Workshop exploring chosen topic

This week, we began the workshop by writing down a couple of words, which relate to our chosen topic. Since I am looking at Pure O, I decided to go for 'Intrusive', 'Repeat', and 'Obsession' as my words. We were then to start drawing things that we associate with this theme, using techniques such as mark making. 

Afterwards, we picked the ideas, and drawings that we wanted to expand on further, as well as materials that we wanted to work with. For my first piece, I decided to use pieces of bunched up fabric, thread and pins. My aim was to show how a single thought or idea, which was represented by the pin, can spiral into hours of obsessive thinking and rumination for someone who suffers with OCD and Pure O. There were two pins, opposite one another, signifying getting from point A to point B, followed by thread, which was used top show that the beginning thoughts aren't as big and strong. I then moved onto using pieces of bunched up fabric, to show the thoughts, and ideas changing into obsessions, consuming the sufferer for hours and days, not letting them get out of the cycle. The fabric went around the whole room, showing the pointless wondering, and eventually ended up by point B. I wanted to use different types, colours and thicknesses of fabrics, in order to show the obsession evolving and shape shifting, at times growing bigger, and other times shrinking and getting less severe. This piece can be seen below.

Afterwards, I wanted to explore the idea of something being intrusive. What does it mean for a thing to be intrusive? To me it is when something or someone is invading your personal space, neglecting your boundaries. It is like they are popping and piercing your bubble, and trying to get in, despite you not wanting them to. 

I decided to portray this idea through punching and piercing holes in different materials, such as paper and fabric, to show a sense of intrusion. I did this using pens, and scissors. Later on, to take this idea further, I wanted to encapsulate the intrusion by strengthening the fabric; making it more stern and durable. To do so, I tested a couple of materials and processes, such as dipping the fabric in was, and covering the fabric in plaster.  The piece covered in plaster was definitely my favouring, as I was able to capture the creases and folds in the fabric, despite it being a completely solid object. I also managed to keep the holes where they were, to continue on with the idea of intrusion.The outcomes can be seen below.

Hot wax:

Plaster:

 

Overall, I found this particular workshop to be quite useful. I was able to try out different processes, which I have not used before, and explore initial ideas for my project called "Pure".