Development for final outcome.

A lengthy post ensues. But necessary nonetheless.

As I was sculpting my hands as thought about various comments and ideas on how I could further present my project without being that literal, yet still maintaining it's intended "shock" reaction effect.

Many have stated various views about the middle finger representing the different flags of countries involved (as well as pure disgust or objection). These are all extremely valid to me and my project as this topic I am dealing with justifies all of the above reactions. Many people have outright expressions (like me), however there are also a large number that participates in either silent or passive protest objections both to and against the whole issue.

As I have already explored my own personal direct reaction to this issue (the sculpting of the middle finger and all it encompasses) I am beginning to feel the various reactions from others viewing my little "eff off" sculptures rather interesting. It allows me to take my own reaction further by also trying to understand their take on the issue at hand. While this is a sensitive issue often swept under the carpet I have gathered very varied outburst and expressions by people around me. A fellow classmate even said that she found it cute! This definitely highlights the varied layers and complexity such as issue brought forth entails.

Also past week I had a small gathering at my home and while the visitors saw my work-in-progress sculptures we inevitably discussed about it. The initial (and still withstanding) idea of sculpting them in miniature version is to make veiwers look closely and scrutinize not only the sculpture but the issue as well.

This was further highlighted by my visitors as they held them in their hands and took a long hard look at it while i was explaining why I chose to represent my own reaction to this issue by using a middle finger. The result was a very diverse and unexpected look on the faces of my visitors as they internalized and formed judgments and responses of their own. Of course a heated debate ensued, however it was their expression as they held my miniature finger near their face and internalized that caught my attention.

Therefore I am going to try to bring my completed sculptures to 100 different people. And explain to them what my sculpture is about and do a portraiture of their expressions. This not only allows me to have my take on the issue, but also an instant reactionary counter to it that allows me to take that step further in exploring this sensitive issue. Of course the evolution is not coming to a definitive halt, but I felt this enhances the whole idea of wanting a reaction and actually getting it all the while documenting it to produce a supposed 'final' work. This brings it slightly back into a loop however I feel those looking at the reactions of others as a final work will develop very different conclusions and responses to the sculpture as opposed to just seeing the sculptures itself. It adds another layer of "evidence" they would have otherwise not thought of and enables them to come to an "informed conclusion" depending on how they view the "evidence"

I will take some test shots this coming week when I return to school and put them up and see how it goes.


Meanwhile the endless sculpting carries on.... Here are some pictures.

* In case some of you are wondering why chose to sculpt them one by one instead of casting them. It is because I did not want an obvious repetitive look as this issue involves many people and the variation in hand sizes and sculpt aids in that direction.