The Life of Objects

decoration sand

black sponge

Reflecting on this, I could have found a more professional way to close the holes. On the other, hand, the sand and sponge add another tactile element to the sculptures. To me, it also feels more intriguing to touch the brown object now, since you want to know what the sponge feels like.

think about the aim of presenting the objects > store, home or artist studio setting? (eg make the table full of paint and clay)

who do I present to? COS, store customers, coaches

put the objects on the floor, table, or a seat so people have to pick it up before they sit?

Printing the Leaflet on Fabric in the Makerslab

Analysis: I printed the leaflet I made about the process of making the objects on A2 pieces of fabric. I had to use nylon fabric since the ink would go through natural fabrics such as linen and cotton. I would have liked it better to use natural fabric, but since I couldn't I tried to find a synthetic fabric that has kind of a silky look and feel. The printing itself didn't go very smooth, since the first time the vacuum was turned on (which creates the spots you see in the second image), the second try it turned out the printer couldn't actually print A2 like it said but 10mm less, which is why the text was cut off on one side. The third time I tried, the text wasn't cropped since I made the image smaller, but the ink kind of leaked out. Also, my plan was to print it double-sided but the fabric would let it shine through too much so it would look messy.

Insights:

I will use two of the objects that have a hole on the top but fill them/ close them with a tactile material

I will use raw clay & slip as a part of the presentation in order to make the tactility of the process more tangible and clear

I made the 'worms' in order to expand the sculptural experience in the space

to not use pillars to exhibit the objects on, since this makes the audience feel like it is a museum and they're not allowed to touch the objects

I bought little stands to put the objects and the leaflet on, so the presentation becomes less static and more 3D

I will put a clothing rack with a few COS clothes next to the tables to make the connection to and context in the COS store more clear

the process of making the objects is a ceremony/ritual in itself > translated into the elements (clay, water, fire)

title of the ceremony:

living objects

clay vitae

a ceremony of the ground

clay matter(s)

grounded in clay

the matter of clay

COS = Clay, Objects, Structure

Clay Opens Senses

Let the audience make an object from raw clay (as the ritual)

Connect every sculpture to an emotion: the audience can choose and communicate their emotions with others through the objects

Love at first touch

every person can take one piece and lay it someone (therefore create a performance)

create a ceremony, ritual around the objects 

back in the day was richer storytelling around objects

what is the play the objects are involved in?

act of play/ ceremony

like playing chess with the objects 

the permanent or changing story introduced by cos “this is … next month this will be introduced” or 

by telling a story, the objects become part of it 

research old rituals have a peculiar angle to it (like tea ceremony)

put into the concept book about the ritual 

close up of the objects as posters

The next layer is position, relation to the clothes in the store

look for rituals close to myself eg home or neighbourhood

always keep in mind my concept 

think about how you get people to touch the objects (eg a girl who did a podcast let the teachers put on pjs and put headphones on > more interactive) 

make the target group text better/ more specific > call it mentality group, leave my parents out 

Conclusions 

put down clay (raw) and/or slip so they can touch it and also touch the objects with it

use table to put the objects on?

choose the best objects and close the holes (put a different material in each one: eg sand, raw cotton, wackelpudding) 

print leaflet on fabric 

make banners from fabric (hanging from ceiling)

make 3 posters of the objects (ideally matte)

put fabric on school table for concept book etc to make it more tactile (A boeken)

week 23 - 29 may

brainstorm based on feedback

create action plan

make paper maché object (weekend)

rest

30 may - 5 june

re-evaluate the target group > rewrite the text to make it more clear 

re-evaluate challenge ? > more humble ?

get feedback and adjust the plan to that 

copy objects in a vacuum machine + by hand ?

print leaflet on fabric in makers lab 

print banners with poem/ image in makers lab

buy/ rent sockels or cubes 

choose the objects and fill the holes

6 - 12 june

print any necessary information on eg wood, tiles (terrazzo) or organic material in makers lab 

create banners/ hanging fabric 

film? if there is time

13, 14 june

make the whole presentation tactile/crafty/textured 

focus the solution on re-engaging the initial target group 

look at the target group again: do I want to attract the initial one or a new one?

choose 2/3 objects to strengthen the project 

how can I encourage the urge to touch the objects?

reevaluate my presentation to increase communication

use the objects that are not vases

don’t make too many aspects, films etc, focus on the objects 

show in the final presentation how they would be displayed in the store 

make everything I make (also prints) be nice to touch for the hand (paper choices etc) 

put the objects in sand? 

black object in lube ?

think of other ways to present them so that people will touch them 

be more humble about the intention: not to reconnect to the whole target group but …

DELIVERABLES

tactile experience/ exhibition

target group refined

concept/ challenge refined > how do I present that? 

I want to leave the concept book this way + add more information on wooden boards/ tiles, biodegradable plastic

PRIORITIES

research the target group > is it really the original or a new one?

rewrite the challenge so it is more humble

research into tactile experiences/ exhibitions 

brainstorm: how will people touch my objects?

research how COS displays collaborations in store