Pocket Journal is a reflection on the preservation of memory and the way memories change over time. This piece a cardboard and card stock sculpture inspired by the large scale works of Claes Oldenburg and Coosje Van Bruggen. The bound cover is meant to invoke curiosity as to what this journal might say, while its scaled up size emphasizes the importance of such a small object.
|
Inspiration
This piece was inspired by the works of Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, who created large structures that looked like enlarged versions of everyday objects. As part of the Pop-Art movement, their work focused heavily on everyday consumer products or non-unique items such as bowling pins and shovels. Oldenburg's earlier work often depicted food items such as giant ice cream cones or French fries. My piece is directly inspired by their work being an enlarged version of a pocket journal I have.
The journal that inspired my piece was a small pocket journal I got while visiting Paris, France with my family. Since then, I have made daily entries when I have left the country, hoping to not forget the unique experiences and opportunities. My piece is meant to represent memory, and the way memory changes and fades over time. The journal is a method I have used in attempts to preserve some of the things I want to remember and despite its small size, is irreplaceable.
The journal that inspired my piece was a small pocket journal I got while visiting Paris, France with my family. Since then, I have made daily entries when I have left the country, hoping to not forget the unique experiences and opportunities. My piece is meant to represent memory, and the way memory changes and fades over time. The journal is a method I have used in attempts to preserve some of the things I want to remember and despite its small size, is irreplaceable.
Planning
When deciding on an object to replicate I wanted to choose something that was important to me, I struggled to find an object that was worth recreating. Then I remembered my little pocket journal and immediately connected it to the concept of memory and the way it changes over time. My memories relating to the trips I recorded in my journal are vague and I have forgotten many of the small details, but when O reread the journal i am able to reread what I did and remember what happened. When beginning the planning process of the actual design, I made sketches of the journal from multiple angles making sure to accurately measure it and its features. These sketches were based on measurements I had made of the dimensions of the original notebook. Since the artists I was inspired by make large objects, I knew I wanted to scale create a larger-scale piece. I decided to scale it all up by three times the original size. I decided I wanted to use colored cardboard to create the design on the front of the notebook.
Process
I began by sketching the dimensions of my object, this piece is meant to be proportional to the original object simply scaled up in size. I sketched the journal from multiple angles so i could work when I didn't have the journal with me. Then I began gathering cardboard and card stock, I gathered many different colors because I was unsure if I would add color to my piece. I made sure to gather many different types of board so that I would have options when working and to ensure I didn't run out.
I then began cutting my board, I marked out edges to cut with my exact knife. I cut the covers first and once I had cut one I used that to trace and cut my other covers so that they would be uniform. I then cut out strips for the pages and used hot glue to glue them to the covers. I then decided to add the binding so I used another large strip of cardboard for that. I then started with the cover design, I decided to make it a different color than the rest of the object. I didn't have any silver colored cardboard or card-like material so I used white instead as it was the most similar. I attempted to make the lettering but it did not turn out the way I wanted so I decided to not include the lettering as it wasn't very important to the overall effect and would make the piece unpleasant to look at. I then added the binding which was a large strip of cardboard, I struggled to get the cardboard to bend nicely like the original. I ended up being able to after about two attempts with different sized strips. |
Experimentation
It was a difficult process to determine which way I could manipulate the limited material of cardboard to achieve a form that remained true to the original object. I thought about stripping away the top layer of card stock to make a texture for the pages in between the covers, however I decided that it varied too much from the original design. I also experimented with colors but was unable to find enough colored cardboard to accurately reproduce all of the colors present in the original work. I also couldn't find black cardboard which was the color of the cover and I decided that if I couldn't find the color that made up most of the object I should largely abandon the idea of adding color to my work. I also experimented with cover thickness as the original cover I made seemed too thin, so I attached a second layer to it and it then seemed more accurate.
|
Critique
Similarities
-They are all based on real life objects and are reproductions of real items.
-Both my piece and the inspiration takes size into account and scale up the object they are based off of. -The pieces are based on accurate measurements and proportions of the original objects, however the scale is changed. |
Differences
-The biggest difference is actual size, while mine is scaled up from the original, Oldenburg's sculptures are huge with most of them being way bigger than a person
-another major difference is materials, I only used cardboard while Oldenburg used varying materials including plastic, concrete, and fiberglass. |
Reflection
This project was a very interesting experience for me. After I was finished I presented it to professors from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, who critiqued my work and offered me advice. Their biggest concern was the state of the exact o blade I used, they told me that the edges of my cuts were unrefined due to a dull razor. I am relatively inexperienced with this tool so I was surprised by their comments but very glad that they were able to discover that mistake. They further explained to me the importance of changing out blades after a few cuts, this was something I was unaware of and will be sure to do in the future. Other than that my only other struggles was finding suitable cardboard for the project. My project was largely made of flat pieces and most of the cardboard I found had creases or bends in it. I had to gather a very large amount of board so that I would have enough to work with.
ACT connections
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork?
The biggest effect of the inspiration on my work is the size, it would have achieved the meaning I was trying to put into it if the object was regularly sized, but my artistic inspiration scaled up their pieces.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
Oldenburg started out with his objects being "soft" they didn't seem realistic with their materials, he later switched to more realistic materials that better fit the look of the original.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I haven't heavily explored the world of pop art before this aside from artists like Lichtenstein and Warhol. I also was very unfamiliar with sculpture and statue artists, I feel like I found a completely different art culture while researching this topic.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
As part of the Pop Art movement, Oldenburg focused heavily on creating accurate reproductions of manufactured items. In his "Flying Pins" he makes use of size and space to create a dynamic sculpture
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
The themes and topics behind many of Oldenburg's works were never explicitly stated so I had to make inferences regarding the reasons behind his artistic choices.
The biggest effect of the inspiration on my work is the size, it would have achieved the meaning I was trying to put into it if the object was regularly sized, but my artistic inspiration scaled up their pieces.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
Oldenburg started out with his objects being "soft" they didn't seem realistic with their materials, he later switched to more realistic materials that better fit the look of the original.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I haven't heavily explored the world of pop art before this aside from artists like Lichtenstein and Warhol. I also was very unfamiliar with sculpture and statue artists, I feel like I found a completely different art culture while researching this topic.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
As part of the Pop Art movement, Oldenburg focused heavily on creating accurate reproductions of manufactured items. In his "Flying Pins" he makes use of size and space to create a dynamic sculpture
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
The themes and topics behind many of Oldenburg's works were never explicitly stated so I had to make inferences regarding the reasons behind his artistic choices.
Bibliography
Hencz, Adam. “Claes Oldenburg & His Colossal Pop Art Sculptures.” Artland Magazine, 27 Sept. 2022, https://magazine.artland.com/claes-oldenburg/.