SCULPTURE toy assemblage
Sculpture
Surrealism is mostly known for its dreamlike paintings. But it also produced 3 Dimensional work - sculptures. Many Surrealist artists, especially in the 1930s, began arranging objects in combinations that challenged reason and summoned subconscious and poetic associations. The most easily obtained materials were found objects, or items cheaply purchased at flea markets. The mundane, mostly mass-produced objects found new resonances when arranged in unprecedented and provocative configurations. Surrealist leader André Breton believed that this new form of sculpture, called assemblage, had the power to puncture the thin veneer of reality, and tap into the subconscious mind. As Breton proclaimed: “To aid the systematic derangement of all the senses….it is my opinion that we must not hesitate to bewilder sensation…”
Toy Story - Sids Mutant Toys
Toy Story
ARTIST MODEL - Judy Darragh
Aotearoa New Zealand, b.1957
Known as the ‘Queen of Kitsch’, Darragh creates flamboyant sculptures that celebrate the commonplace and popular culture. She uses garden ornaments, toys, religious knick-knacks and souvenirs to challenge and subvert conventional standards of high art and good taste. From the German word ‘kitsch’, it refers to the low art (and often mass-produced) objects of everyday life. Like an amateur hobbyist or collector, Darragh takes pride in recovering items overlooked by other artists. Here, a part-fish, part-human creature with a futuristic silvery finish reverses the usual notion of evolutionary progress, while the small plinth and name plate suggest the pretensions of grandeur often seen in minor trophies.
ARTIST MODEL Rose Skinner
Rose Skinner trained originally as a graphic designer, she didn't enjoy it and while looking for a way out of the industry she began to 'make stuff' from 'things'. People liked her work and so she started to create art and installations work. The majority of the materials used in her installations are recycled or reclaimed. It goes with her anti-consumption ethos which highlights modern trends of mass production and throw away ideologies, she sources a lot of objects from verge-side collections, charity shops and car boot sales.
ACTIVITY - Mutant and Precious Toy Assemblage
In this focus study, you will be upcycling toys and found objects into either mutant toys or "precious" sculptures.
Start by looking at the artist models and the different ways they approach reassembling toys and found objects into something new
Select a couple of items from the toy box and look at ways in which it can be DE-constructed [pulled apart] and RE-constructed [put together] again with different objects.
deconstruct = saw, cut, unscrew, pull apart
reconstruct = glue [hot glue, superglue, araldite], screw, nail, wire, bind with string, slots etc.
consider how they will be attached - glue, screw, wire or other and what is the best method for your work
if your object is a mutant toy, you need to ensure joins are neat and strong.
If it is a Precious sculpture, these joins can become part of the work itself! your sculpture will be spray painted like metal!
Go forth and create your masterpiece!
EXTENSION - complete a drawing of your sculpture larger than life on A3. you can use whatever medium you like!
NOTE:
*be mindful of how you pull apart toys and dont destroy other parts which may be just what some else is looking for. where possible, unscrew or cut off parts with a coping saw or blade.
*resources are limited, so dont hoard things you arent using.
Student work
