Imprisoned Curves

Imprisoned Curves #1

Imprisoned Curves #2

"Faith and doubt both are needed - not as antagonists, but working side by side to take us around the unknown curve"(Lillian Smith, 1944). This was definitely the case throughout the production of this piece. Vigorous critiques of  earlier designs led to much doubt in my ability to produce convincing fluid forms.

If faith were to be a solid rigid form then doubt would be fluid form. I have a firm faith in my ability to produce rigid and geometric forms, but doubt comes when introducing fluid shapes into my designs, the finished design is a result of an internal battle between the dominance of geometry and the rebellion of curves. A struggle ensued inside my mind but the minority of curvature was contained and bound, this is shown in this piece, imprisoned by the solid steel square and bound by the white knotted cotton are the oppressed plastic curves, trying to snap free of the bounds that hold them captive and be expressed, but staying oppressed by the captor which is geometry.

It wasn't until late into my development that I began to find non-geometric curves coming into my designs, I believe that with further development the fluidity in my shapes would have evolved a great deal, however my mind has been conditioned in my college graphics class so that I am akin to symmetry and geometric shapes which can be easily constructed and replicated.

The model that has become my end product shows off the fragile yet tensioned cotton as a feature of the overall presentation, I remembered the teachings of the arts and crafts movements: honesty in construction and truth to materials(Ruskin, J.) whilst making the conscious decision to show off the white thread. The thread portrays tension in the piece and through this tension we see the transition between the curved and flat planes.

 Smith, L. (1944). Strange Fruit. Jasper, Florida. Houghtton Mifflin Harcourt.

Ruskin ,J. Wk_4_design_reform.pdf. School of design website. Accessed through http://schoolofdesign.ac.nz/mod/folder/view.php?id=434 


Photographs by Jayden Hamilton