Visual Symbols

Mask

Air Dry Clay, Ink, Wire

3.5 in x 3 in x 5.5 in

Full Angle #2

Full Angle #3

Detail

In Process

The clay sculpture entitled Mask was inspired by emojis and the rise in teenage depression that has accompanied social media use. My intent is to visually communicate how it feels to put on a fake smile. I wanted to focus on creating a detachable mask of a smiley face because I wanted to reiterate the act of playing pretend. I decided to include a blue tear dripping down from underneath the mask to emphasize a sadness or other emotion happening beneath the happy appearance. The making of this work exposed me to new ideas and materials since I had never worked with air dry clay before. I found that working three-dimensionally becomes interactive in a way that two-dimensional art is not, and working in-the-round conveys a different message and creates a different experience, both for the artist and the viewer.

Mother

Air Dry Clay, Ink, Wire

9 in x 4 in x 3 in

Full Angle #2

Full Angle #3

Detail

In Process

The clay sculpture entitled Mother was inspired by women and the universe. My intent is to visually communicate the power that women hold and that life would not exist without women. I wanted to focus on creating a little universe inside of a feminine form, and I decided to include planets associated with femininity as well as stars. The making of this work exposed me to new ideas such as making interactive work that can be safely inspected and taken apart. I found that making the feminine form into a sort of vessel to hold the planets and stars emphasized the meaning of the work.

Research #1:

The Moon represents not only Woman, but our collective past, so the final section is marked by a host of voices from which no individual one emerges.

https://www.kylegann.com/Planets.html

I wanted to look into the different aspects of outer space and which planets hold feminine meaning, and this information influenced the use of the moon and other planets within Mother.

Research #2

Female nudity is something that's prevalent in this project. What is it about the naked body that fascinates you?
Elle: I love the timelessness of nudity. Clothes and manmade objects can date an image really easily, and I really wanted to make some work that felt universal, and out of space and time.

https://i-d.vice.com/en/article/7xbmyg/reconnecting-the-female-body-with-nature-in-celestial-bodies

I wanted to focus on the female form for this sculpture because I wanted to focus on the magic of women and how nothing could exist without women, which is why the body of the sculpture is of a nude feminine figure laying on its side.

Research #3

In archaic times, people perceived the sun, in its shining prime and glory, the giver of heat and light and life, to be the effulgent force of the female.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sun-goddess_b_884568

I included quite a few stars or suns within Mother because they represent warmth which is needed for life, and I wanted to showcase both the power and softness (warmth) of women and mothers.