Thesis Project #4: Chickenwire & Paper Mache

Final Piece

At the Spring 2023 Senior Thesis Exhibit

At the Winter 2023 Exhibit

Close-up texture

For this project, I created an installation that portrays my emotions escaping. Specifically, I looked into a 3d visualization of such a process and got inspiration from cocoons of insects and their process of emergence from the chrysalis. Examining the works of Rebecca Hutchinson and Magdalena Abakanowicz, I experimented with chickenwire, tracing paper, and glue to create a paper mache model in the shape of a cocoon, as well as a model of a torso and several hands. By putting the body inside of the cocoon, as well as directing the hands to flow out of the body with metal tubings, I seek to portray the leaking of emotional expressions and revelation of my real hidden identities. As I am new to this medium, there was a lot of trial and error in this project. I tried out several different textures, from bare-bone chicken wire and dry tracing paper to paper mache (shown below). Ultimately, I ended up with the final decision to cover the chicken wire with paper mache, then afterward cut holes into the cocoon to portray gaps within my barrier.

Materials:

Chickenwire

Tracing paper

Glue

Metal tubing

Metal wire

Process Sketches