LIMITS (SPRING 2025)

14. QCQ #3: The Gravity of Levity

15. Contradictory Structures: Research

Concept Board 2 and Concept Board 3

16. Contradictory Structures: Final

17. QCQ #4: X Marks the Spot

18. Lost Statements: Research

Concept Board 2 and Concept Board 3

19. Lost Statements: Final

Materials: Wood, yarn, string, pebbles, and a blue glass marble

Dimensions: 24 x 2 x 20

Materials: Wood, yarn string, plaster shell forms, blue glass marbles, rocks, real sea shells, and blue beads

Dimensions: 10 x 2 x 42

1. QUOTE

"Proceeding, then, to an exploration of the generic, McCollum’s work became an ironic rewriting of modernist art’s attempts to reduce individual media—painting, sculpture, photography, etc.—to their very essence as genres, or aesthetic norms. However, anti-formal to its very marrow, McCollum’s reduction was not to an abstract condition—flatness, say, or opticality—but to a generic type ('painting' as a blank canvas with a frame around it; 'sculpture' as a kitsch bauble, a shape meant for mass production) that could serve as the model from which to generate potentially endless numbers of copies."

2. COMMENT

I chose this quote because it challenges the idea that art should focus on the “pure” qualities of a medium, like the flatness of a painting or the physical form of a sculpture. Instead of finding the true aspect or meaning behind a medium, McCollum shows how these forms can be reduced to something common, easily recognizable, repeated, and missing deeper meaning. His work suggests that instead of being about creativity or expression, art can become a kind of product, something made to be copied, reproduced, and used. This makes me think about how the art world often turns original, meaningful ideas into trends or materials that lose their uniqueness over time. It also reminds me of how styles, symbols, or even powerful messages can lose their strength once they are mass-produced or shared too much. What once felt new and thought-provoking can eventually feel empty or routine when it’s seen everywhere.

3. QUESTION

If McCollum shows how art can turn into something that’s easily copied, does that mean all art will eventually become just a product? Can a piece of art still have deep meaning even when it’s made or shared many times, or does copying it over and over take away what it was meant to say?

4. IMAGE

As a visual aid, I've chosen Untitled (I Shop Therefore I Am) (1987) by Barbara Kruger. It’s one of her most iconic pieces, using bold white text on a red background over a black-and-white image of a hand, mimicking the style of advertising to point out how identity and meaning can become shaped by buying and repeating what we see in the media. Like the quote from Krauss, Kruger’s art doesn’t try to show the “pure” aspect of a medium like photography or graphic design. Instead, she uses familiar visual styles to reveal how easily powerful messages can become basic and repeated. Kruger’s work supports the idea that art can be a “generic type” easily reproduced and used to make a point about how society turns even important messages into everyday images. Her approach shows that when something is repeated enough, its meaning can either fade or take on a new, important view. This directly relates to McCollum’s concept of reducing art to a form that can be copied endlessly, questioning how much meaning survives in the process.

Materials: Steel rods, fabric, and glow ball led lights

Dimensions: 2.5 x 2 x 6

Beneath Broken Wings is a sculpture I created to show the hidden pain behind a joyful appearance. By reading The Gravity of Levity: Humor as Conceptual Critique, I wanted to explore how humor can hide deep emotions. Like a clown, the figure appears bright and cheerful, but underneath, she carries pain that no one sees.

I built the sculpture with a triangular base covered in colorful fabrics to give it a playful and lively look. From this base, I shaped the outline of a woman’s face using bent and twisted steel rods, making her appear fragile and distorted. I wrapped yarn and fabric around parts of the piece to add softness and show the delicate balance between how she looks on the outside and what she truly feels inside.

I placed a glowing LED ball that flickers in different colors, each representing an emotion. Red reflects hidden anger or passion, while yellow represents the happiness she forces herself to show. Pink symbolizes her vulnerability, and black hints at the sadness weighing on her. Blue expresses her quiet misery. The changing lights create a sense of anxiety, mirroring different emotions beneath a smiling face.

1. QUOTE:

"There is an intimate creative connection between thought and laughter. A number of significant intellectuals have challenged the common assumption that laughter is a thoughtless act, a kind of unpredictable and unruly response to the inanities of the world. Walter Benjamin, for instance, noted that 'there is no better starting point for thought than laughter.'"

2. COMMENT:

I chose this quote because it challenges the idea that laughter is just a silly reaction. Rather than being just a momentary response, humor has the power to make us think in new ways. I appreciate this idea because I’ve seen how humor in art can be more than just entertainment it can serve as a means of questioning the world around us. I connect this to my own experiences with abstract art, especially the works of John Baldessari and Marcel Duchamp, whose art blends humor with deeper philosophical research. Their ability to poke fun at the art world while at the same time engaging with its structures is a perfect example of humor as a critical tool rather than a distraction. They use humor to challenge our expectations of art, encouraging us to rethink what is considered serious or important. I relate to this because some of my biggest realizations have come from moments of comedic absurdity, whether in conversations, art, or media. The unpredictability of laughter can reveal hidden truths or make complicated topics more accessible. It is fascinating to consider humor not just as entertainment but as a method of breaking down and reshaping the way we think.

3. QUESTION:

Does humor in art help people engage with deeper ideas, or does it sometimes make the message feel less important?

4. IMAGE:

As a visual aide, I've chosen Erwin Wurm’s One Minute Sculptures because it perfectly demonstrates the idea that laughter can spark thought. His work seems playful and even ridiculous, but beneath the humor, it challenges traditional ideas about sculpture, time, and participation in art. These temporary sculptures involve everyday people following foolish, humorous instructions like balancing objects on their heads or bending in awkward positions. The sculptures only exist for a brief moment, but they challenge the idea of what a sculpture should be. As the quote suggests, humor isn’t just random. It can be a tool for deep reflection. Wurm’s sculptures make people interact in unexpected ways, forcing them to question what a sculpture is and what role the body plays in art. Like abstract artists before him, Wurm blurs the line between the serious and the ridiculous, proving that humor can be just as thought-provoking as more traditional art forms. Someone might first laugh at the strange poses people hold in his sculptures, but then they might start asking: Why is this art? What makes a sculpture a sculpture? This mix of humor and critique is exactly what the quote is about laughter as an entrance to deeper thinking.

1. Manifesto Room: Research

Concept Board 2 and Concept Board 3

2. Manifesto Room: Final

3. Artist Presentation: Research

4. Manifesto Room: Collective/Subjective

5. Manifesto Public: Research

Concept Board 2 and Concept Board 3

6. Manifesto Public: Final

7. QCQ #1: One Place After Another

8. Museum Visit

9. QCQ #2: Das Sockelproblem

10. Kitchen Pedestal Sink Manifesto: Research Concept Board 2 and Concept Board 3

11. Kitchen Pedestal Sink Manifesto: Final

Materials: Wood, plants, plant pots, paint, and watering can

Dimensions: 42 x 35 x 72

Pedestal of Growth is a sculpture I created that explores the journey of growth, both in nature and in life. Using wood as my main medium, I built a geometric, layered pedestal structure that represents the five stages of plant development from a single stem to a fully bloomed flower. Each level adds up to a different phase of growth, illustrating the continuous transformation and energy required to flourish.

I painted my sculpture with a blend of colors, each carrying a symbolic meaning. Shades of green represent life, renewal, and the continuous cycle of growth. Brown represents trees, plants, and the natural strength of wood. Blue symbolizes water, the sky, the earth, and nourishment, important elements for survival. Yellow presents energy, brightness, and the light that fuels growth, while orange represents warmth and transformation, expressing the process of change and evolution.

To further highlight the theme of growth, I added real plants at different stages of development, placing them on different rows of the structure. The lowest level holds a small, young plant, while the highest row supports a fully bloomed flower, visually addressing the journey from seedling to maturity. The difference between the geometric hardness of the pedestal and the organic forms of the plants is the balance between structure and natural growth that requires both support and the freedom to evolve.

Next to the sculpture, I also added a watering can that is placed as a ready-made tool, building the concept of nourishment and care in the growth process. This addition not only connects to the physical act of growth but also adds to the idea that growth requires continuous care and attention. Just as the plants need water to grow, so too do our personal and collective journeys.

Materials: Aluminum wire, plants, and wood

Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 14

Mother Nature’s Whisper" is a one-line sculpture I created that presents the deep connection between nature, humanity, and motherhood. I sculpted the wire into the abstract face of a woman with a neutral expression, demonstrating the quiet strength of a mother. The plants growing around her represent the nurturing embrace of Mother Nature, who, like a mother, provides life, protection, and guidance.