Moving on from my previous experiments with mod roc, I started with testing plaster to see if that can create more ideal texture that is more refined. And as mod roc create quite a light weight piece and I’m looking for something that is heavier so when you put on your body you can feel the weight and how the piece is squeezing and putting pressure on you.
My first trial is quite chaotic as I didn’t expect that tiny bowl of water will take THAT MANY PLASTER POWDER. So the first mix is quite watery but I have no choice and need to pour it into my prepared “mould” and have my finger crossed to see what will happen. As I want to create a organic shape that is not too thick and could become like a shell for our body, I prepared a calico bag and a plastic bag as the mould to be pour in. I want to see how this two material might create different texture, and also to test if it is possible to use plastic bag as a mould or it will melt when the temperature rises. I use clips to seal the opening of the bag and place it on a rounded structural shape to create the curve.
At one point I almost thought this will never get dry since it is so watery, but luckily after around an hour the plaster started to harden. And I try to open up the calico bag and found surprises inside. As there are air when I was pouring the solution inside, it create this weird shapes on one side.
I like how it turned out to be quite landscape-like, and the shape just naturally created by chance and the materiality of plaster. I wondered how this could be further explore, to pour another material into the middle…etc.
The one moulded in plastic bag also surprisingly worked out. It created a very glossy finishing almost like porcelain, which is the texture I was trying to create. Even I put this on the table to dry so it in the end is more like a huge plate. But as the plastic bag is more flimsy and flexible compared to the calico one, it have more potential to create interesting surface, like the folds accidentally created by the bag and the hollow part which where the solution did not run through.
A closer look of the different finishing of the two materials. Also I want to make a note that even I kept talking about the result making “by chance,” I am still thinking and trying to create certain effect during the process when I was making these pieces. However, instead of forcing the material to do exactly what I was imagining, I gave it a bit of freedom and opportunity to grow into the shape and texture it wanted to be. This process is inspired by the ceramist Akiyama Yo, which he tried an unusual way to work with the material and see how that process will lead his work to. Instead of making the material to do whatever I want it to do, the way I work is more like having a conversation with the material and communicate with it. Try to understand what the material is trying to say, and try to push a bit of its boundary by using some not so standard way to work with it. I really enjoy this way of working and the process of it, and will keep experimenting in this way in my ungoing process.
Also as the solution is so watery, it actually leak a bit while I put it into the calico bag. I put tissue paper underneath so its not going to make the whole table wet. And while I was cleaning up I found these small pieces where the solution dried on the tissue, and create quite a beautiful piece with the contrast of blue and white. And the super thin tissue and the thin layer of plaster are extremely fragile and when I held them up they just started to crack. I found this quite beautiful and is also something I was trying to explore in my project. Thus I also try to document them as an inspirati
CHRISTINA TAI 