Plaster hand with the fingers distorted using wireΒ
Category: Sculpture
Lindsay Obermeyer




Linsey Obermeyer’s “Womans Work” collection 1997-2008 is a series of pieces that consist of knitted jumpers. The main theme of the pieces consist around motherhood. The piece “Immigration: Missing You – 2008” features two jumpers one made to fit Obermeyer and the other made to fit her daughter separated by a fence. The piece leaves a feeling of isolation and despair
I liked the use of the softer materials and everyday objects and alters them to convey such heavy topics.
Claus Oldenburg Project
For the first sculpture project we looked at Claus Oldenburg and his large scale projects. After looking at in particular his “Ice Bag” 1971 I began to look into a paper bag.

To begin with, I began with creating sketches of a paper bag.


I decided to build the bag out of clay to try and replicate the folds in the paper.
Project Two
After working on my first Oldenburg inspired project I wanted to stay focused on the general idea of a bag but add my own artistic style. Almost linking to my painting project I wanted to still focus on my human anatomy. I wanted to focus on hands as they are versatile and would be able to developed upon.
In my original plans I wanted to create a bag out of hands.
To start my project I went to the plastics workshop to make a mould of my hand.

Using alginate (a seaweed based powder) mixed with water I was able to make a realistic mould of my hand. To make the mould I took a sheet of plastic and hot glued it into a tube big enough to fit my hand. I filled the tube up with the alginate mixture and had to insert my hand into the mixture quickly. I had to wait for approximately 5 minutes for the mixture to dry around my hand then added plaster to create a cast of my hand.
After creating the plaster hand I coated it in multiple layers of silicone to create a reusable mould.

Understanding my own work in context of other artists
Currently in sculpture I’m working on combining everyday objects with aspects of human anatomy, I have mainly experimented with plaster, silicone and liquid latex.

Contemporary artist- Xooang Choi

Xooang Choi is a hyperrealist sculptor, who is based in South Korea and obtained his postgraduate in sculpture from Seoul National University in 2005. His sculptures made from a mix of clay and resin and painted with fleshy tones combines hyperrealism as well as surrealism.
He takes body parts out of context to create disturbing and thought-provoking pieces
Widewalls
I felt like Choi’s work inks very well with my own current practice as I am also trying to push the boundaries of preconceived notions and boundaries of human anatomy. After looking at his portfolio I was particularly inspired by the way his sculptures are painted.
Historic Artist – Alberto Giacometti

The swiss sculptor, Alberto Giacometti, created work inspired by the human condition. Said to be one of the most important sculptors of the 20th century his strong and distinctive style makes his work feel cohesive and it is almost like they have a familial bond.

c.1958β9 – image taken from the Tate website
Although my work and Giaometti’s work do not share many similarities visually, I find his philosophies very interesting and inspiring. Giacometti used his work to raise questions about the human condition which is something I also strive to do through my work.
Sources:
Alberto Giacometti 1901β1966 | Tate
βStanding Womanβ, Alberto Giacometti, c.1958β9, cast released by the artist 1964 | Tate
Tate Modern to Display Rarely Seen Giacometti Sculptures | artnet News
Claes Oldenburg & Holly Hendry
Claus Oldenburg
Designed by Claes Olenburg and Coosje van Brugeen in 1994, the Inverted Collar and Tie is located in Frankfurt, Germany in front of the Westend Tower. It was commissioned by the Deutsche Genossenschaftsbank in 1993, installed June 14-15 1994 and inaugurated June 21 1994. Standing at 39 ft. x 27 ft. 9 in. x 12 ft. 8 in. (11.9 x 8.5 x 3.9 m) the tie and collar is made from steel, polymer concreate, fiber reinforced plastic and painted with polyester gelcoat. The sculpture weighs 7.5 tonnes but seems to have a softness that gives the image of fluttering in the wind.
“If I didn’t think what I was doing had something to do with enlarging the boundaries of art, I wouldn’t go on doing it.”
Claes Olenburg
The contrast between the fluidity of the statue and the stiffness of the materials captures the feeling of taking of a tie at the end of the workday with the feeling of the next work day looming around the corner. The size of the sculpture is a defining trait of Olenburg’s work – Olenburg is has gone on to create many everyday objects with amplified proportions and placing the outdoors. An example of this is when Olenburg made a large scale ice bag and place it in multiple locations across the United States.

Holly Hendry

Holly Hendry born 1990, is a British Artist who mostly focuses on aspects of the human body. The sculpture Cold and Callous (2021) features two feet with highly detailed and realistic toes compared to a smooth upper part of the foot. The baby blue colour relates back to the title representing the colour body parts will turn when cold – the colour choice also has a darker overtone possibly relating to death. The piece was created using Jesmonite, pigment and wood and is 75 x 68.5 x 21.5cm.
It was very interesting to look at Henry’s work after studying Olenburg’s as they both approach objects we take for guaranteed or don’t usually think about on a day to day basis and makes it into a statement piece. For example Olenburg scales up day to day objects and often switches the material to be opposite of the original object. Where as Henry takes objects that are often seen to be gory and unpleasant to think about and puts and illustrative spin on them. I personally preferred the look of Henry’s work as it appealed more to my aesthetic. It was also interesting to look at two artists who were working at different times but seeing the similarity they both share.
Sculpture – Week One

sketches
Using the brief of the word “Prond” we were asked to create sculptures using cardboard. To me the word ‘prond’ made me think of; isolation, water and fluidity. I tried to capture this with my cardboard model. I found it difficult to work with the rigidity of the cardboard and it took a while to find the best way to stick the cardboard together. In the end hot glue worked the best to hold the sculpture together.