Eco Materiality
Week 6
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In a group of three, we brainstormed, designed then created a public installation responding to the term "More than Human"
Brain Storming
Hannah, Han and I made a mind map of out thoughts surrounding the phrase "More than Human"
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We decided we wanted to create a sculpture in nature, maybe a creature or being that had evolved to work harmoniously with nature.
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We agreed to use only earthly materials that were as removed from human intervention as possible: clay and bamboo.
Clay Figurines
We each made one (or more) clay figurine, deciding not to make them too human-like, we drew inspiration from plants and alien notions of a living thing.
Placing them in the tree was easily achieved due to the clay's malleable qualities. We all agreed that the notion of the creatures emerging from the tree or physically being part of the tree worked well with our overall themes.
We created ceatures that exist symbiotically with nature and each other. Transcending petty divisions that humans create between themselves and nature. These Humanoid figures are made from clay, bamboo, twigs and dried leaves; all natural and sustainable materials. This aims to further connect them to their tree home.
Additionally, we included string and bamboo strips between the figures to literally portray their community and connection.
Artist Research
Andy Goldsworthy
Earth Art
Andy Goldsworth has an extensive collection of "Earth Art" in which he manipulates a natural area using materials already found in the space. He only rearranges the landscape to create whimsy and wonder while being minimally invasive. These ephemeral artworks are possibly more precious and beautiful because of their short lifespan. Goldsworthy uses his sustainable art practice to emphasise on the existing beauty within nature; an effort to make people feel just as enchanted and protective of the natural world as they feel about his art.
Ervin Herve-Loranth
Ripped Up (2014)
​This large public sculpture represents the desire to break free, depicting a stone giant literally breaking free from underneath the turf in Budapest and surfacing with a scream. This sculpture is a good example of our aims for this weeks project and our efforts to create a humanoid figure that has integrated seamlessly with nature.
The actual meanings and process behind this artwork is disappointingly not reflective or our aims though. The Giant is made from polystyrene foam, painted to look like stone. This is not a sustainable material, however the concept and aesthetic of the sculpture is so very fantastic.
