By object is meant some element in the complex whole that is defined in abstraction from the whole of which it is a distinction.
-John Dewey
To see is to forget the name of the thing one sees.
-Paul Valéry
The creative act is not performed by the artist alone; the spectator brings the work in contact with the external world by deciphering and interpreting its inner qualifications and thus adds his contribution to the creative act
-Marcel Duchamp
Assemblage is an artistic process in which a three-dimensional artistic composition is made from putting together found objects. For this project we will be working with found objects, things that already exist, and we will be combining and altering them in ways that gives new meaning. Sculpture is very much about context, and every object has it’s own inherent meaning and context. Every object carries with it a history, both objective and subjective. How can we alter this history? How can we re-combine things to create new histories? The focus of this assignment, in addittion to the specific objects you chose, will be how you combine them. Realize that the joining of objects will also dictate the meaning of the piece and will create a relationship between the objects. For example, one method of joinery might be binding as in tying the objects together with string or rope. This binding might seem restrictive, confining, or tight. In contrast, you might decide to glue things together so that the joint is not seen. This might add a sense of mystery, magnetism, or some other attractive force. In either case, the method of connection must be thoughtfully considered. |
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