Duality

Artist's Statement:

This assignment was to create something that had an element of duality to it. I decided to make a plate, and sgraffito my duality design into it. I chose to do a bird that is also its own cage. This plays with duality because it is the intersection between these two juxtapositions, of being the cage and being the bird. I also added a key, because I liked the idea of it being just out of reach. 

I wanted to have a good balance between dark and light, so I tried to make the bird design fit as much space as possible. I also wanted to incorporate the illusion of texture, so when I was sgrafitto-ing, I left some of the black. It made it look a bit like a woodblock carving, which was what I was going for.

If I really want to think about it, I think that this piece represents a bit of myself. I think that sometimes I myself am the cage, and also the bird. And also the key. Overall, I really like this piece, and am really happy with the outcome. However, one thing that I would have done differently is that I would have made the slab for the plate more even. I ran into some issues because the plate warped, which is a pity, but the plate is still beautiful, so I am happy.