I'm soft touch this time, starting with...

This is my soft ‘crown of thorns’. If you look closely you will see the fabric is a barbed wire print.

Why have I created this? Firstly, because I had the fabric and have an intensive drive to turn fabric into something.

Secondly, the barbed wire print made me think of thorns, plus I have always liked soft sculpture work (Claes Oldenburg and the like), hence create a stuffed crown of thorns.

As I worked on this piece, I thought a lot about the crown of thorns the Roman soldiers forced Christ to wear. It was their way to mock and ridicule a man.

Many of us can relate to experiences of mockery/ridicule/bullying. We may not be forced to wear a physical crown of thorns, but we can still feel the mental and emotional anguish, as Christ no doubt, also did.

What we must do with our own “crown of thorns” experience is to talk with a friend/person we trust. Share our moments of pain. Sometimes just sharing helps us to sort the problem, but other times that trusted person can teach us strategies/ways of coping with the problem. This is what helps us to grow as human beings on our journey through life. (On public display at school)

Soft Sculpture is sculpture created by manipulating fabric into a 3-dimensional shape with any number of binding and filling processes.

CdG's F/W 2017 'The Future of Silhouette' collection

"Two armless forms with bulbously sculptural curves made of white wadding."

White wadding, great for making soft sculptures.

As is this dacron filling. Yes, I know. maybe over ordered!

 Soft sculpture was popularised in the 1960s by artists such as Claes Oldenburg, Joseph Beuys and Eva Hesse. (Louise Bourgeois also worked in this medium, as I noted in my previous blog.)

Claes Oldenburg was born in Sweden in 1929.  He went to Yale University in 1946, where he gained a Bachelor of Arts. In the 60s he began creating soft sculptures from fabric, kapok and foam rubber. A number of his early soft sculptures were made to be touched, which is nice, and were a commentary on American consumerism. I can see that.

Floor Cone, 1962

Giant BLT 1963

French Fries and Ketchup 1963

In his early career, Oldenburg was married to Patricia Muschinski. Muschinski was an experienced seamstress and it is known that she helped him in many of the technical aspects of his soft sculpture work, but for some reason, her name is not associated with the work. It is his second wife, Coosje van Bruggen, who is acknowledged as a partner in Oldenburg's work. I have read that van Bruggen was also an "experienced seamstress". Makes me think, wasn't Oldenburg lucky to have such talented women by his side!

Often times Oldenburg created 2 sculptures of the same object: one from hard material and the other from soft material.
'Plug', soft and hard

 

'Clothes Peg', hard and soft

Apprently, when Claes Oldenburg designed his 14-metre-tall 'Clothes Peg' steel sculpture, he was inspired by Constantin Brancusi's 'The Kiss'.

Supposedly he scribbled on a print of this sculpture  Cpin=kiss.
You can definitely see it in the ornamental clothes peg I have on my dresser.

I like Oldenburg's soft musical instruments

If you feel at all inspired, this is a good site to get you going on a soft sculpture project. It presents good tips as to what is best to choose to be a soft sculpture. There are some interesting short videos relating to Oldenburg's work, especially the one about installing the BLT. I also like N.M's version of the Viola.
https://newworldsculpture9.blogspot.com/2016/01/project-soft-sculpture-due-december-22nd.html

I've given it a go with something that is a large part of my life. Lots of creative fun. I wonder if I should have it less stuffed.

On a sojourn I experienced through the United States some years ago, I took in a number of Oldenburg's sculptures. One session was on the Roof of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Other times at The Storm King Centre, and in various public gardens
                                  

Isn't his work quirky and fun.

In 2001 this intriguing Oldenburg sculpture was installed in the city of Cologne.

The commission came from the owners of a new shopping mall on the corner of the busy Neumarkt Square in Cologne. Due to the congested nature of this city's streets, Oldenburg and van Brugggen chose to place the sculpture on the roof of the mall, making it appear spire-like. This seems very appropriate to me, because in today's consumerist world, people seem to flock to the mall on a Sunday, like they once did to a church.

Here is a photo I took out of the Listener a couple of years back. It's evocative of Oldenburg's work. In this case what was once hard has become soft and "foldee". It has become it's own soft sculpture.

Kiki Kogelnik, who was a part of  the Pop Art movement group, created this work in reference to Oldenburg. (I think Kogelnik delivered her works in the full height of the person she was representing.)

"Claes'

The question concerning Pop Art is, did it glorify, or was it cynical, regarding consumerism?
I guess you could write a thesis arguing either way.

Comme des Garcons classic S/S 1997 collection 'Body Meets Dress, Dress Meets Body' is wearable soft sculpture.

In the CdG F/W 2007/08 'Curiosity' collection, RK was again demonstrating wearable soft sculpture.

Padded hands holding it together. A curious design touch.

And the 'Inside Decoration' collection F/W 2010/11 delivered lots of wadding filled sculptural garments, padding out shoulders, chests, hips and backs. RK was adding bulk to the places, which today's fashion usually avoids, if it is seeking to flatter and appear sexy.

In 2014 S/S , RK wanted a collection which related to objects that might be worn on the body. These 2 garments demonstrate that. A padded cage like structure and a stuffed teddy bear. Again, wearable soft sculpture.

The Australian actress Mia Wasikowska modelled these garments for AnOther Magazine

 

So, the teddy bear object is a part of the dress, however when the collection hit the street, that teddy bear came out as a bag. 
A bag is an object that is worn, right? That's how RK achieved her concept on the high street.
                                           

This inspires me to create my own. I have a pattern and some left over wool fabric, so let's do it.


I've created my Teddy Bear Bag, and I love him! He was such a buzz to put together. Canvas lining and all.

                           
About 5 years ago, my Yr.13 students presented me with a teddy bear, constructed out of the fabrics each student had used for their 'A Small Fashion Collection' project. He is very cute, and goes so well with each cool garment that was created.

Another designer, who presented wearable soft sculpture in his FW 2018 collection, is Rick Owens. Owens is an admirer of Rei Kawakubo. I think his admiration is evident in these soft sculptural works. (and please, no comments about tri-pillows!)

There was one other image from the Mia Wasikowska CdG SS 2014 spread, which I liked, these tights, obviously stuffed, and are they wrapped in wadding?

Could the image be inspired by Sarah Lucus, the British artist, who came to prominence in the early 90s, when she was brash, subversive and into stuffing stuff for her art...and she may still be!

These works were her comment concerning Bunny Girls. 

Stuffed tights at work.

I liked the Sarah Lucus work, which was in the wonderful 'The Body Laid Bare' exhibition. (I remember liking the plinths, just as much as the work of art on them.)

Takes me to this sculpture by Anna Lomax, which she created in homage to CdG's historic 1997 collection

If you look at the stuffed padding which created the "lumps/bumps" effect from that collection, you can see where the artist is coming from.

Another human-like soft sculpture, this time by Dorothea Tanning, 'Nue Couchee (Reclining Nude). Ping pong balls create the effective spinal look.

Similar sculptural structures are going on in this magazine accessories shoot......

And what about this last one from Sarah Lucus..."Yes" sculpture with decommissioned Kalashnikov rifle,2012. It's a confronting soft sculpture, isn't it.

Segue to artist Natalie Baxter, who wants her soft 'Impotent' gun sculptures to make people pause a moment. She's got to be American, don't you think, although that issue is no longer as far from home, as it once used to be!

This link will enable you to follow the whole series and learn more about what she was expressing through her soft sculptural art.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/natalie-baxter-warm-gun-sculptures_n_581cba14e4b0e80b02c976e8

New Zealand textile artist, Deborah Walsh created this fabric gun piece (not so much a soft sculpture, but still textile), 'Huia Gun'. Tweed fabric, dressing gowns and swandris sourced from op shops were used to imagine the clothing worn by the man who shot the last huia. I am led to think about what she might present if she was creating a work regard the last moa?

Walsh presented an interesting olive green swannie soft sculpture, titled 'Bush Tiki'. I love it's creativity.

                                      

French artist, Annette Messager's 1993/94 'Penetration' , is a soft sculpture work of internal organs suspended from a ceiling. It is a conceptualization of the body rather than the body itself. The view of our internal body, not so much as seen by us, but by medical research. Apparently the shadows are crucial to the impact. She is quoted as saying "My name is Messager, but I have no message." Take that as you like.

Lots of soft sculpture works go on at school.
My Yr.10s start their year with such a project, as in, design and create yourself a pincushion, which will be your practical companion during the year.

They design their own soft structure according to a brief.

This year, the theme I gave them was "Something Familiar", and they had to write a small paragraph explaining what they created and why. (Literacy at work in a practical subject)
It may be a small group, but they have what it takes to demonstrate the joy of creating with fabric and expressing it in the written word!

And some of my Yr.8's were working on an intriguing soft work during their last week of term 2

When I asked about it, Sophie wrote down what it was....

Love it!

Craft Group at school has just finished a "Silky Cushion" project for the Auckland Cancer Society. These cushions are a helpful aid for people who are recovering from breast cancer operations. We cut, we stitched and we stuffed, with this result

Cacti often turn up in a soft form........

A Yr.10 project

Some soft cacti, doing their thing in my workroom studio. (When you are creating something that is going to function as a pin cushion, the best stuffing is wool, as it ensures the pins will remain rust free.)

Here is an interesting link about a Soft Sculpture exhibition, which the National Gallery of Australia put together in 2009. In the 'About' section you can read a very informative essay about soft sculpture.
https://nga.gov.au/exhibition/softsculpture/default.cfm?MnuID=10

I'm back with another Claes Oldenburg, this time his 'Sculpture in the Form of a Fried Egg', using canvas, dyed cotton and expanded polystyrene. The diameter of this work is 310cm.

Want to have a go at making you own, try this worksheet.... 

                  

Here is my effort.

And my soft sculptural 'Arum Lily'.
I have always liked arum lilies, and this is one I created out of a white velvet fabric, although I didn't have quite enough, as you can see when it opens.

These images are just to give an idea of the size of my Arum Lily

To finish, one last astounding wearable soft sculptural piece from CdG 'The Future of Silhouette'. Where would you wear it?

SLTSLTBsigning off.

Gone inward this time.

Image by Zara Pickens

Introversion and Introspection.
The term, introversion was popularized by Carl Jung (the Swiss psychiatrist who is acknowledged for founding analytical psychology).

Jung suggested everyone has both an extoverted side and an introverted side, with one being more dominant than the other. Jung defined introversion as an "attitude-type characterised by orientation in life through subjective psychic contents"(a focus on one's inner psychic activity), and extroversion as "an attitude type characterised by concentration of interest on the external object"(a focus on the outside world).

People who are introverted tend to be focused more on internal thoughts, feelings and moods, rather than seeking out external stimulation. Introverts are quite happy to be on their own, whereas extroverts are energised and thrive off being around other people. Introverts enjoy solitary activities and many an artist, writer, sculptor, inventor has introverted qualities.

Introversion Sculpture by Majd Patou Fathallah

 Introversion Painting by Beth Taylor

Rei Kawakubo demonstrates 'introversion' as CdG's nonconformist clothes are often a visible expression of her inner life.

 

'Monsters' F/W 2014

But, none more publicly revealed than in the S/S 2019 collection. Kawakubo was thinking deeply on her previous 10-season practice of challenging fashion boundaries, "I felt this approach was no longer new, and I looked for what is new........But I could not find it. What I thought of in the end was a profoundly internal approach....about what's deep inside." 

This collection was about R.K. The pressure of the CdG creation, her aging, maybe even musing on womanhood and motherhood. 

Padded protrusions appearing to spill out of the midsections of oversize jumpsuits, ala pregnancy?

Sarah Mower said of these two creations from the collection...

"I have never seen a more searingly accurate image of internalized female psychological conditioning...Heavy chains strapped beneath their second-skin dresses, shackles spilling from their hems and sleeves, clanking as they walked...can't do this, shouldn't do that, shut up, put up, and carry on." Was RK feeling shackled to the constant drive to come up with something new for the fashion world? Expression of inner thoughts.

Introversion, thinking internally, appearing quieter than those who are constantly delivering loud verbal expressions. 

In 2012, Susan Cain's book 'Quiet' was published.

She argues that modern western culture misjudges the capabilities of introverted people, leading to a waste of talent, energy and happiness. Cain describes how society is biased against introverts and advocates that introversion is not a "second class" trait. Her point is that together introverts and extroverts enrich society. (For introvert examples, think Issac Newton, Albert Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi, JK Rowling, to name but a few)

This link will give you a review of Cain's book. The reviewer makes some interesting and personal comments, as to how aspects of introversion apply to herself, plus some controversial comments Susan Cain expressed.

https://litlens.org/2019/01/21/review-quiet/

Like to see and hear Susan Cain deliver her message? Click on this ted talk video.

Cain uses the word 'Ambiversion'. Ambiversion falls more or less in the middle of extroversion and introversion. An ambivert is moderately comfortable with groups and social interaction, but also relishes time alone. Interesting.

As previously mentioned, many an artist has introverted qualities. 

One particular artist I admire, who demonstrates 'turning inwards' in her work, is Louise Bourgeois. In the final years of her life (she died 2010, born 1911) an exhibition titled "Turning Inwards" displayed 38 etchings she made between 2006 and 2010.

This etching is titled 'My Inner Life'

A sense of personal reflection is very evident throughout Louise Bourgeois' work. Since childhood she kept diaries and made drawings. By turning her attention inwards Bourgeois processed her personal experiences and emotions, helping her to form an intensive artistic expression. All her artworks relate to her life and her relationships with other people. There are recurring motifs and themes throughout Bourgeois' work: knots and spirals, hanging bulbous pendulous shapes, motherhood, maternity.

I am drawn to Louise Bourgeois' work due to the fabric, needle and thread medium she often used.

One of her most famous motifs is a spider, probably most widely known in this sculptural form.

Maman

Maman (Mother) depicts a spider, which has a sac containing marble eggs. This work reflects the strength of Bourgeois' mother, Josephine. It is also a wonderful metaphor of spinning, weaving, nurture and protection.

There is no doubt that this is a powerful work of art, but I really love this rendition, fabric spider 

This site refers to how Louise Bourgeois might inspire others, e.g. CdG. I think the images of Bourgeois in her last years are quite beautiful....The Artist. (She is recorded as saying she actually did not like her photo being taken, because she didn't really like how she looked. An inner feeling held by many females!)

https://agnautacouture.com/2016/09/18/louise-bourgeois-inspires-so-many/

In 2017, when Rei Kawakubo was celebrated at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Barneys store presented wonderful window displays, celebrating Kawakubo and Louise Bourgeois. This connection will take you to a site explaining it so well. They are fabulous exhibits.

https://thewindow.barneys.com/rei-kawakubo-louise-bourgeois-comme-des-garcons/

Comme des Garcons's A/W 2006 'Persona' collection may have offered an introvert the chance to do their thing without feeling exposed. Check out this headwear....

 Sometimes when parts of your face are covered, you may feel more comfortable when your photo is taken.

 My particular  take on CdG's Persona headwear...

Apparently mistaking introversion for shyness is a common error. Introversion is a preference, while

 shyness stems from distress...distress of ...what to say next, what will they think of me, will they talk 

about me when I'm gone, will I clam up! Man, the day one comes to terms with that particular inner stuff is truly empowering. 

LifeHack Images

Rei Kawakubo is often described as shy and retiring. I suspect she may prefer introversion. I think these photos of RK give hints of that preference (They were taken well over 10 years ago for Vogue Nippon)

Or, the cover image on Deyan Sudjic's book (published 1990)......she is not fully revealed...she keeps something aside/inside.

I did write a haiku in reflection of her 'shyness'. (From a previous SLTSLTB blog)

I like Polly Booth's 'Megaphone For Introverts'.
A fibreglass resin structure that allows "shy but politically minded protesters to share their views, while hiding their faces."

Adam Falatko's wearable sculpture. He was given the brief - the work had to represent some sort of transition - Falatko's sculpture is the representation of introvert to extrovert. Can you see it?

               

 Doug Beube's 'Introverted/Extroverted' 2001 altered book. Which book do you relate to?

Ruth Grace designed a "Leave Me Alone" sweater. I guess it could work.

To know where the designer was coming from, check this link for more detail

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWiHXdPPu3U

As you can see by my selfie style (see side bar) I am not really "out there" when it comes to a photo, and for goodness sake here I am, in 1961, and yes, not wanting to look at the camera! Amazing...maybe I was checking out my shoes. I do have a thing for shoes!

Here's a final connection re inner thoughts & CdG. Again, a quote from Sarah Mower concerning CdG's S/S 2019 collection, "one of them was cracked open in a zigzag, like a cartoon egg."

Let's finish with this as a reflection on inner strength....

SLTSLTBsigning off...Just be who you be. That inner thought can set you free.