Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Completed Affluenza Chandelier.






Phew! The Affluenza Chandelier is complete and has been put past the panel for assessment. Pretty much the most involved project I've ever completed I can finally breath a sigh of relief. It brought it's fair share of stress along the way but I learnt a lot. I now have metal wrangling skills and look at mundane objects and (non vegetable) refuse in a whole new way. I also learnt that if you are sick stay away from permanent super glue based decisions: in these instances blu tac can be your friend. I am also really lucky that we had our assessment in two parts and that I learnt in a forgiving environment that I am NOT, even about a project I know inside out, capable of speaking off the cuff. Fortunately I had a week until the graded panel assessment to get over the virus and learn my presentation off by heart - also rewrite it so it made sense  (that helped, who knew?)  and sell the concept behind my chandelier the best I could. In the end it seemed too much for some flan tins and plastic cutlery to embody  the fullness of Hamilton's arguments in Affluenza so I narrowed it down to a metaphor: the Family Meal. That is taking the time to cook fresh ingredients in enduring materials and nurturing your connections with family and friends around the meal table in contrast with the takeaway meal eaten alone after a twelve hour day at work. The flowers are of course my depiction of the "Down Shifting" Hamilton cites as the cure for Affluenza. They start at the bottom tier, multiply in the middle and by the top tier form a thriving garden. Using yellow also helped me portray the sense of energy and new life and abundance (as opposed to material abundance) that comes from individuals downshifting (shame on anyone who thinks I used yellow because I've got a BIG crush on it and it's SO hot in design right now.....).
As a final note I should probably start calling it the Down Shifting chandelier because, like the book, it ends (and I'm hoping this comes across visually) with the feeling of optimism and new possibility. And plus no body wants a depressing chandelier do they?????


10 comments:

  1. I think it looks amazing. I like the yellow touches. Your description of preparing to present your work and ideas took me back to doing my painting degree and having to present dreaded crits.

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  2. Wow that is AMAZING Jo! You are such a talented girl! xo

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  3. Oh Jo... I am just speechless! It is totally breathtaking and your analysis is so concise and meaningful. Good on you! Just love it :) Kx

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  4. Congrats Luna! What a wonderful art piece and what a huge achievement. well done ox

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  5. Oh wow! What an achievement. It looks fantastic!

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  6. Absolutely fabulous - and I love the yellow.

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  7. newest follower signing in :)
    this is gorgeous.
    love your blog!

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  8. Oh my! That is absolutely amazing! How did you do that?! Well done.

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  9. Oh WOW!!! That is a sensational piece of art - I just love it!! Huge praise to you for your hard work. I hope it is displayed somewhere for many to see.

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