Plaster moulding- casting the unknown

There are many ways how 3D shapes can be formed, today I explored one of them … plaster

Plaster models made with left over plaster... could this be another stacking monster ?

After a short demonstration from Mark (technician), I rolled up my sleeves and got my hands dirty – who would’ve thought fashion could get this messy!

At first there wasn’t a specific shape I wanted to cast or plaster, but after considering what textures the plaster can carry- I experiments with corrugated cardboard and moulded it into a curve before plastering.

I find the mysterious factor of this technique really thriving, in a way, it's similar to my previous work in that questions aren’t answered until the end.

Below is a collage of my first experiment. Originally I wanted the curve to be quite smooth… but somehow ‘failed’ in achieving this outcome as a crease/ dent was also cast. In away- imperfection could be perfect – things happen for a cause right?

Nevertheless, I found the outcome quite intriguing and different to how I would usually approach ‘fashion’. The added cardboard remains also add another layer of depth in making it ‘resemble’ it’s original state but not…

From the ‘failure’ of achieving the smooth curve- I exaggerated the creases in my second attempt to see if I could achieve a completely different outcome.

Plaster is usually used to create something filling a mould or model casted from another object. Looking at these 2 pieces of work I have created- I think it definitely shows the nature of cardboard but in a more solid rigid format. The illusion factor of this piece is very strong and in many ways captures your attention and justification to what it could be.

As I have also been looking at lighting in my research- I took images of the 2^nd cast with and without flash. 2 different outcome and opposites have been created –

The Crisp VS the Soft,

The Smooth VS the Rough

The Fragile VS the strong  

Going forward … there are many directions I can take this … but is this I want? At the moment I find plaster too restricting, too solid, too set in stone… but maybe I can coat the module cast in another material to create the same ‘texture’ and ‘shape’, but in a more flexible form.