Alison Ono ; “Happy Valentine’s Day”; Paper bag, Masking Tape, Sandpaper, Wire, Pins, Staples
In order to grasp the concept of materials over form, my aim for this project was to create a form that contradicted its materials. I decided to create a sculpture in the form of a teddy bear, which is associated with comfort and security; in contrast, the materials used to create the teddy bear, such as sandpaper, wire, pins, and paper bags, are associate with roughness and danger. Thus, the emotion depicted would be betrayal. Though one typically addresses a teddy bear as cute and welcoming, the bear actually has the ability to harm them if they regard the form over the materials and embraces the bear. The one confronting the bear will feel a sense of betrayal because of the misleading form. This bear symbolizes those who alter their outer look in order to mislead or manipulate others, and the rough materials are a metaphor of the ill intent behind a kind exterior. You cannot always trust everything at face value; some people, like the teddy bear, will utilize this trust to ultimately hurt and betray you.