All this week, we've started on our 'Deify' research. I'm really loving it at the mo, because usually I have a complete lack of ideas, but they seem to just be flowing from me this week! Loving it. Anyway, I've started to put together some ideas for my shrine, which would be a shrine to books, and my Nan and Grandad's house. I've decided to make a fireplace, as that is a central feature in my memories of being in my Nan and Grandad's house when I was younger, and I've decided to make it into some sort of offering place, where people come and offer memories, or books, or words.
This week I've looked at some designs from some Adam's Fireplaces, from pictures from this site: http://www.thistleandrose.co.uk/fireplaces/antique-fireplaces. I've taken some aspects of some of these very decorative, elaborate designs, and I also did some quick sketches of some Arts & Crafts fireplaces, which I thought were lovely, but I think the over the top, antique style is much more appropriate.
As part of my research, I looked at the different types of sacrifice or offerings, and as part of the faith of Hinduism, they tend to offer food, whereas typical Buddhist shrines are full of Lotus flowers, and bright colours. I was thinking I could incorporate this into my own shrine, taking from a piece I did in the last section of the project, Objectify, where I have made an origami heart from a page of a book. I am thinking I could maybe make some origami flowers, to lay in front of the offering plate, so it is these, with words written on, that people offer to the fireplace.
Also, after thinking very hard about how my shrine is going to be made, I'd like to maybe make the "frame" out of chicken wire, or something of that same stability, and then apply some mod rock on top of the chicken wire to give it a sturdier finish, then paper mache over the top of the dried mod rock a few layers, then paint over the whole structure with a dry brush and white emulsion, so, only very faintly, you can see the bits of the pages coming through. I think this would tie the theme together nicely, and the detailing on the fireplace, I would make from thin pieces of rope stuck under the paper mache, to give it a raised effect, and then draw very small words and phrases that remind me of the happy times at my Nan & Grandad's house in a gold pen, so from afar, the detailing looks coloured, but up-close, there is more to it.
I'm really excited about making my shrine, as when you think of a Graphic Design course, you believe that it is mainly computer based work, with possibly a little illustration if you're confident in drawing, however I've come to realise that this course is completely different from my expectations, which I think will only benefit me invaluably, as when I begin my career in Graphic Design, I'll have so many different "ways" of thinking, in terms of sculptures, making things, drawing, painting, representing and mark making. I've really loved all this work and I hope my final outcome works well.
