In this particular sculptural project, I chose to convey a relationship between my grandmother and me. This relationship is one that I associate with unconditional love, warmth, and compassion. Because these special objects possess nostalgic childhood memories and serve as not only birds’ homes but also as sanctuaries, I decided to utilize nests to express this relationship. Before I celebrated birthdays with half a dozen candy-colored wax candles, I lived several hours away from my grandparents’ charming pallid house in the midst of suburbia. On Christmas Eve, my parents and I would travel to their address to unravel wrapped presents the very next day. That night, I would slumber in my great-grandmother’s bedroom encased in pastel floral wallpaper with a bedspread to match. As we cuddled to sleep, my great-grandmother would tell me the bed was our nest and that I was her baby bird, which made me feel special.
Due to the material’s malleability yet strength, I employed wires, including electric, nylon, and coat hanger, as the skeleton of the nest. Its composition creates a muddled array of angular (hard) and circular (soft) line qualities. When creating the piece, I chose to progressively unravel the nests’ wires as it draws further outward to represent my great-grandmother’s Alzheimer’s as she aged, which did not weaken our relationship per se but rather made it difficult to communicate with one another. Because some of the wires that I have threaded through my nest are electric wires, I feel that those particular wires signify the gradual disconnection of our communication. Because this hue evokes a strong, warm sentiment much like her personality as well as our overall relationship, I chose to spray paint the wires in a champagne color.
Due to its sheer simplicity, I believe that this piece is not only empathetic but beautiful as well.
Until next post,
Dani
P.S. Photos coming soon! I promise.
