CLOUD CHAMBER

Inquiry: What is the interaction between nature and the human-made?

Title: Cloud Chamber

Dimensions (h x w x l): 5 x 1.5 x 2 ft

Date Completed: Dec 10, 2021

Idea: A juxtaposition of meteorological phenomena with indoor spaces.

Materials: Cardboard box, plastic bottle, LED lights, polyester stuffing, cotton thread

Processes: Painted box white for contrast, Inserted LEDs for light, hung by thread for suspension

Inspiration

Planning

Process

I started with an empty cardboard box, which I painted with white paint to create a minimal backdrop for the clouds.

For the illuminated cloud, I inserted LED string lights into a large, clear plastic bottle. I figured the bottle would provide transparency for the light to shine through, lightness required for the cloud to hang, volume to create the illusion of puffiness, and sturdiness to hold everything together. As for the actual cloud fluff, I hot-glued polyester stuffing onto the surface of the bottle. My method was to glue them in a random clumps, so that it mimicked a real cloud without looking too fabricated.

I didn't want a wire coming out the top the cloud to ruin the illusion of suspension, so I ran the wire through a hole in the back of the cloud and out of box. I then suspended the cloud with a thread from the ceiling of the box. The wire coming out the back also provided an anchoring point that stabilized the cloud and prevented it from swiveling.

After this, I went ahead and added the small clouds at varying heights and distances from the back to give the piece more irregularity. After this stage, I reviewed my piece and asked for feedback. The feedback I received was that the smaller clouds were too small and uniform, so I they didn't look very natural. I agreed, so I went back and added more bulk to the clouds to make them more imbalanced and natural.

Experimentation

In this piece, I experimented by taking the concept of a "simulated reality" portrayed by miniatures, and translating it to a larger-scale installation. Fabricating at a larger scale, I had to find different materials that would be practical and effective in depicting my subject. If I had built at a smaller scale, I would've used cotton balls, but since I wanted to make a cloud that was roughly the size of a watermelon, I had to use a material that was available in relatively-large quantities, which was polyester stuffing. I obtained this from an old giant teddy bear I had in storage.

Also, a larger scale meant I also had to find a box that could comfortably house my piece. I decided to use a large cardboard box that used to be packaging for a piano. Also, a bigger box meant more surface area, so I had to paint it using a roller and wall paint because an art brush and acrylic was simply not be fit for this purpose.

I also experimented by incorporating lighting into the piece itself, which contrasts with my former miniatures where lighting came from an external source. To make this work, I had to engineer a solution to connect the wires to a power source in a discrete way, so as to not break the illusion.

Reflection

Overall, this was a very fun project to do. It was something different because it required me to problem solve and engineer original solutions to realize my vision for the piece. This piece contributes to synthesis by tying into the idea of two polarized domains, the natural and human-made, converging in one space. This was already portrayed in my prior pieces Ruins, Overgrowth, and Sunken Room.

I believe my project connects well with my inspiration because my piece had a similar tranquil atmosphere going on, portrayed a meteorological phenomenon, and used lighting as an integral artistic element.

I would say my biggest challenge in making this piece was just going about putting it together delicately with caution. As the clouds literally hung by a thread, even the slightest nudge could've caused things to come crashing down, the threads to detach or the stuffing to fall off (this happened multiple times). It was particularly challenging to run the wire through the back as I had to use force to make it go through, but I didn't want it to shake the box too much.

After reflection, I have identified that this project most prominently utilizes the art elements of scale, texture, variety, and space. The scale was of particular importance because it emphasized the piece's details while immersing the viewers in it. The smooth flat walls of the box and fluffy inconsistent exterior of the clouds provided an interesting juxtaposition of textures. The clouds also had a variety of different shapes, sizes, and locations in 3D space.

My favorite part was definitely making the cloud because it was satisfying to glue on each clump, seeing a cloud come to life before my eyes. However, my least favorite part has to be hanging up the clouds because it was a bit tedious, and things kept falling down.

When others see my piece I hope they feel a sense of calmness and fascination for the simple, yet grand nature of weather. Since it is something that every one is familiar with, I hope it grounds them in reality and humbles them by reminding them of the greater forces of nature at work.