Organic vs Industrial
Uniformity
Cut Fruit
size undefined
April 2017
size undefined
April 2017
Exhibition Text
The primary function of a factory is mass production and uniformity. Our society is functioning like a factory; everything has to be produced in high quantities and meet a certain standard, or be rejected. It has even gotten to the point where human flaws are not tolerated to the extent that they should be. We are being enslaved to uniformity. Soon our fruit will have to be uniform or else it would not be acceptable to eat it. Make it fit, or toss it.
The primary function of a factory is mass production and uniformity. Our society is functioning like a factory; everything has to be produced in high quantities and meet a certain standard, or be rejected. It has even gotten to the point where human flaws are not tolerated to the extent that they should be. We are being enslaved to uniformity. Soon our fruit will have to be uniform or else it would not be acceptable to eat it. Make it fit, or toss it.
Planning
Inspiration
My piece is inspired by the work of Sagmeister and Walsh on the Deitch Projects, Banana Wall, 2008. The craftsmanship was very clean and it was obvious that uniformity and rhythm were important to the artists. I was drawn to Banana Wall because the repetition, pattern, and unity were very strong within the composition. I also knew that I wanted to work with food for my piece. The composition of this work gave me the idea to enslave all the foods around me to uniformity, just as industrialization has done to the world we live in today. However, I decided the uniformity I wanted to pursue would be restricting the form of the used fruits rather than their space.
My piece is inspired by the work of Sagmeister and Walsh on the Deitch Projects, Banana Wall, 2008. The craftsmanship was very clean and it was obvious that uniformity and rhythm were important to the artists. I was drawn to Banana Wall because the repetition, pattern, and unity were very strong within the composition. I also knew that I wanted to work with food for my piece. The composition of this work gave me the idea to enslave all the foods around me to uniformity, just as industrialization has done to the world we live in today. However, I decided the uniformity I wanted to pursue would be restricting the form of the used fruits rather than their space.
“Deitch Book.” Sagmeister & Walsh, 2016, sagmeisterwalsh.com/work/all/deitch-book/. Accessed 19 Apr. 2017.
Critical Investigation
Banana Wall was part of a Deitch Project exhibit called Things I Have Learned in My life So Far by Stefan Sagmeister. The exhibit "included works that transformed throughout the exhibition as viewers engaged with them" (Deitch Projects). This demonstrated one of the concepts that Sagmeister has learned which is that all things change. I speculate that Banana Wall, other than expressing Sagmeister's thoughts on confidence, demonstrated what he has learned about the liminality of all living things. That all living things are in a stage between life and death, experiencing a change or growth.
Banana Wall was part of a Deitch Project exhibit called Things I Have Learned in My life So Far by Stefan Sagmeister. The exhibit "included works that transformed throughout the exhibition as viewers engaged with them" (Deitch Projects). This demonstrated one of the concepts that Sagmeister has learned which is that all things change. I speculate that Banana Wall, other than expressing Sagmeister's thoughts on confidence, demonstrated what he has learned about the liminality of all living things. That all living things are in a stage between life and death, experiencing a change or growth.
Planning Sketches
Click on the images for a closer look.
Click on the images for a closer look.
Experimentation
In preparation for the final fruit cuttings, I cut up a few apples to see what the best way to cut fruit was. It is not picture, but I attempted to use a square cookie cutter to form the initial boundaries of where to cut. It was not too good for cutting through fruit. When experimenting I discovered that smaller cubes of fruit must be cut and put together to reach the desired size I want the fruit to be. To the right, I was having a lot of trouble putting the banana cube together. I thought possibly molding it like clay would work but I just ended up with a slippery mess that could not hold a geometric form. I had to get more bananas in order to complete the final cube. Luckily bananas are not too expensive. |
Process
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Steps:
- Collect fruit
- Be sure that it is large enough to cut into a "decent sized" cube
- If it is something like a banana, make sure it is a large one
- Get a white background to photograph
- Do not crease the background in order to create the illusion of a large flat surface
- Cut a piece of fruit so that it is a cube measuring approximately 3 inches x 3 inches x 3 inches
- If it is something like a banana , use smaller cubes to create a larger one
- Photograph the final pieces
Evaluation
In evaluating my piece for meaning and relation to inspiration, I would say it is a strong piece. I believe that that the message about uniformity is strongly demonstrated through the standard cubic form of the fruit. And the repetition of different fruits with the same form shows the mass production aspect and how everything is expected to be of a certain standard. The relation to Sagmeister's Banana Wall (2008) is seen through the use of fruit being displayed in a very specific way. However, I was not attempting to express the same idea as Sagmeister which is the liminality of all living things, being in a stage between life and death.
Reflection
I believe that my piece was an overall success. The only reservation I have is that I'm not entirely impressed with the photograph. The angle shifted from picture to picture slightly, and the shadows were not predictable enough. I wanted a shadow that is as uniform as possible, but I was using natural light and it tends to change. I would light to go through the whole process again just to get the perfect pictures. I would definitely use a tripod to hold the camera and shoot the pictures in the early morning when the lighting is not as intense and is more predictable.
I am very confident in the message I am expressing through this piece. I believe the uniformity of organic materials is an insane thing to attempt, but industrialization and corporations are actually trying to do it. I feel as if I exposed that insane idea an eloquent way with a touch of irony to attract the viewer.
I am very confident in the message I am expressing through this piece. I believe the uniformity of organic materials is an insane thing to attempt, but industrialization and corporations are actually trying to do it. I feel as if I exposed that insane idea an eloquent way with a touch of irony to attract the viewer.
ACT Responses
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork:
I identified that Sagmeister's Banana Wall lead me to think about the unity created when everything fit a certain pattern. This built the bridge to society being enslaved to uniformity.
What is the overall approach (pov) the author (from research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The authors of my research held Sagmeister's work in high regard often commenting on his ability to create an experience for a viewer that is more than a glance over at a museum.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I made the generalization that people like work they can relate to, especially since I saw so many people enjoying bananas on a wall, probably because it is familiar and out of place.
What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central theme around my research was finding something that I was passionate about and affected. I found uniformity to be an issue that is constantly trying to make me conform completely to societal expectations.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
I made the inference that Sagmeister was attempting to show the liminality of all living thing through his changing exhibit.
I identified that Sagmeister's Banana Wall lead me to think about the unity created when everything fit a certain pattern. This built the bridge to society being enslaved to uniformity.
What is the overall approach (pov) the author (from research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The authors of my research held Sagmeister's work in high regard often commenting on his ability to create an experience for a viewer that is more than a glance over at a museum.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I made the generalization that people like work they can relate to, especially since I saw so many people enjoying bananas on a wall, probably because it is familiar and out of place.
What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central theme around my research was finding something that I was passionate about and affected. I found uniformity to be an issue that is constantly trying to make me conform completely to societal expectations.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
I made the inference that Sagmeister was attempting to show the liminality of all living thing through his changing exhibit.
Bibliography
“Deitch Book.” Sagmeister & Walsh, 2016, sagmeisterwalsh.com/work/all/deitch-book/. Accessed 19 Apr. 2017.
“History of Deitch Projects.” Jeffrey Deitch, www.deitch.com/history. Accessed 19 Apr. 2017.
“Things I Have Learned in My Life So Far.” Jeffrey Deitch, 2008, www.deitch.com/archive/things-i-have-learned-in-my-life-so-far. Accessed 19 Apr. 2017.
“History of Deitch Projects.” Jeffrey Deitch, www.deitch.com/history. Accessed 19 Apr. 2017.
“Things I Have Learned in My Life So Far.” Jeffrey Deitch, 2008, www.deitch.com/archive/things-i-have-learned-in-my-life-so-far. Accessed 19 Apr. 2017.