Project Description
Using all the research, and building, techniques you have acquired over the course of the semester, create a bust that will serve as your very own self-portrait. Your intent with this sculpture is to use it as a way of immortalizing, and describing, an aspect of your personality that you feel the whole world should know about. Show us who you really are... Show us how you would want the world to remember you at this moment of your existence.You may use any materials that you have access to- be resourceful be creative. Note: recycling bins are a gold mine.
Requirements
Remember to be prepared. Your bust should be freestanding (not handing or leaning on anything). For critique, it will be presented on top of a white pedestal with a 12" x 12" base.
Rubric
You will be graded on your time-management, effort, craftsmanship, and creativity. We will be paying special attention to the thoughtfulness of your ideas, your technique, and your originality. You will receive two full project grades for this assignment:
In-progress critique grade (Due Dec 5)
Final project Grade (Due Dec 12)
In-progress critique grade (Due Dec 5)
Final project Grade (Due Dec 12)
First Step- Research
In order to do this project well, you will need to start by researching the following things:
- The art-historical use of the bust from at least 3 different time periods and cultures.
- You will also need to think and write about your own ideas and concept of self. What makes you, you?
- What is the role of the portrait? the self-portrait? Give three examples of sculptural self-portraits in art-history. One from a past culture, one from modern art, and one from a contemporary (living) artist.
Note: The hyperlinks I included are from Wikipedia, and are only a starting point. You will need to research beyond this.
Suggested Working Process
1. Gather Materials
The primary materials you will use, is up to you and your resourcefulness. You can use discarded items from your home, things like: milk cartons, packaging, containers, broken household items, old clothes, etc, etc. Begin by sourcing materials that would normally thrown away. Be sure to clean them. As you take an inventory of your materials, think about how the materials can communicate just by themselves.
Do not use any materials that will rot, ie. vegetables, or animal by-products. If you do choose to use food-stuff, make sure it is stable, and will not attract pests. An example of something that could be used if clean and stable would be well-washed egg shells.
2. Make Sketches and play
Start making sketches, and trying out different building techniques. Experiment with different ways to create form and volume.
3. Choose an idea to communicate
When you are thinking of ways to communicate your idea, try to find ways that will manifest your concept without illustrating it; don't be too literal, cartoonish or animated. Try to stay away from easy recognizable pop culture memes, and do your best to make your “Bust” look like you. It will be helpful to think of this more as a classical sculpture... as opposed to some kind of halloween prop.
4. Construction
Approach the project in a way that makes sense to you, and use building-techniques you've learned from previous projects. Do your best to create volume with the materials you have selected.
All the same design concepts apply to these materials as they would with things you buy in an art store.
Use form, line, color, and context to communicate. The materials you use, and the way you put them together should be enough to communicate your concept. They should show us who you really are... Show us, how you would want the world to remember you at this moment of your existence..
5. Presentation
Remember your bust should stand on it’s own during critique, so make sure it can stand without your hands holing it.
More Background information
A bust is a sculpted representation of the upper part of the human figure, depicting a person'shead and neck, as well as a variable portion of the chest and shoulders. The piece is normally supported by a plinth. These forms recreate the likeness of an individual.
Important Things to Remember
- observation and measurement (this is based on your own body)
- sketching out ideas is important, and helpful to show your thinking process.
- cardboard building
- found objects
- soft sculpture
- The bust should be close to exact proportions of your very own head/bust.
- Please stay away from the cartoonish or animated approaches.
- Your sculpture is not a caricature.
- Your sculpture will be a realistic representation of your self. a true self portrait.
- if you feel so inclined; some element of the sculpture should extend at least 12 inches from your bust.
- Think sculpture think volume.
Further Research
Please research sculptural busts from other cultures and time periods: Asian, African, American, Latin American, European, Pacific Islander, Australian Aboriginal, etc, etc.
What did they look like? What materials and building techniques did they use? Why did they make them? How were they used?
Here are a few links to some contemporary artists using busts in their work. Please feel free to share any other information or videos with all of us. Use the comment section of the blog.
Artists References
Aachen_Domschatz_Bueste1
"Self-Portrait," by Jeff Koons, 37 1/2 inches high, marble, 1991
Robert Arneson, self portrait crowned Gary Hutton
JANINE ANTONI
“I wanted to work with the tradition of self-portraiture but also with the classical bust…I had the idea that I would make a replica of myself in chocolate and in soap, and I would feed myself with my self, and wash myself with my self. Both the licking and the bathing are quite gentle and loving acts, but what’s interesting is that I’m slowly erasing myself through the process. So for me it’s about that conflict, that love/hate relationship we have with our physical appearance, and the problem I have with looking in the mirror and thinking, ‘Is that who I am?’”
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Studio_of_Francis_Harwood,_Bust_of_a_Man_(c._1758,_Yale_Center_for_British_Art)
Zhang Huan, 2012 (click for more info)
