Developing Ideas

After investigating my designs through making maquetes out of polypropylene, it made me want to make my designs become a statement piece rather than making it look 'pretty'. To quickly explore ideas I decided to get a model to keep moving 1 meter long plastic tubing around and over the face, starting with only a couple tubes, ending with around 10 tubes. These photos gave me some really unique ideas for some designs which I will be using for my final outcomes.

After looking at various artists, the most effective jewellery I have seen are the most expressive pieces, which demand attention from on lookers. With this in mind I have designed 10 pieces;

Netal neck collar with studding at the top and bottom and also around the bottom some cable ties. Attached onto the metal collar, a strip of metal with black Ostrich feathers.

Plastic tubes attached onto a metal collar, two strips of metal attached onto the collar with more plastic tubes.

Plastic tubes attached onto a metal collar with black Ostrich feathers attached onto the bottom.

Leather collar with studding, with cable ties on the top and bottom. Attached onto the collar, some plastic tubing and some stuctural metal shoulder pieces.

Thin metal strip with plastic tubing.

Metal neck piece with cable ties along the bottom and plastic tubes along the top.

Idetical metal collars with plastic tubes attaching them, with cable ties on the bottom piece of metal. 

Strips of leather with studding with black Ostrich feathers.

Long metal neck collar with plastic tubes.

Metal strips going around the neck and feathers attached onto them and with leather and studs on the chest piece.

Seeing how my designs would look on real people - models from magazines;

Tribal wear inspiring my designs. (sketchbook and moleskine)

Development of Ideas

During the time I have been working on my final major project, my idea has developed into something I least expected it to. My idea originally was to focus directly on tribal jewellery, after looking at the collection of tribal jewellery in the Pitt Rivers Museum, the unique materials and designs of them caught my eye. I was drawn to these aspects and instantly wanted to put my own twist on them. My idea was to westernise these pieces, as acceptable everyday wear. However, after having worked with metal, I knew this was the material I wanted to use. The restricting aspect of the metal pieces I made intrigued me. This aspect is also very common in the jewellery tribesmen wear, especially the brass coils worn by Burmese women. I began to look at restriction on each body part, having strips of metal going across various joints, making the wearer unable to bend their arms/legs etc. In my designs I included leather, as the contrast of surface and colour would compliment the piece as a whole. I became aware that this type of jewellery could be misinterpreted, making it more sinister than intended. Currently I am revisiting some of the ideas I had previously, still having the base of the piece the same, however I would also include other details such as; multiples of one object and other various materials used by the Aboriginal people of Australian, such as; feathers, hair, leaves, etc.

More metal work photographs

Metal work photographs

The outcomes.

I am hoping to extend these pieces further by spray painting them silver. On the head piece I am looking to increase the size by making some larger loops at the back.

Some designs in preperation for working in metal.

...and also restricting the hands/fingers.

After doing some artist research I have decided to base my designs around restricting the body.

 

Experimenting with a shower pipe...

Some of the pieces I went on to make...

Drawing pins and bluetack

Tea light candle case and pins (glue gun used to secure the pins)

Saftey pins and hemming web

Screws and hemming web (used a ring and lobster clip to hold it together at the back)

(Same as above)

Bic pens and beads

(Same as above)

Through out the week I have focused on multiples of everyday items (the one day project I gave myself which actually turned into a week!) Firstly some designs;