Today I began the physical process of sculpting. I have decided to hand - make a clay apple. I think I will do it in two parts, then attach the top and bottom halves together. I plan on cutting out a large chunk from one side, as if someone has taken a large bite out of the apple. I want the apple to be sprayed gold / silver - something aesthetically pleasing and eye - catching. But, spilling out of the 'bite' will be something to contradict the illusion of perfection and wholesomeness. I am entertaining the idea of engaging the student body by asking for people to anonymously submit hurtful comments which they have endured / insecurities which plague their thoughts. I would transfer these submissions - tangible forms of the negativity that pervades modern society - onto pieces of paper, perhaps, and place them inside the apple so that they spill out from the inside. An additional idea I have is to create a snake head that emerges from the papers and out of the apple, but I am not sure how realistic this is.
Rationale for why the apple: for as long as i can remember, i have subconsciously viewed the apple as an emblem of health and wellness; as the saying goes, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” however, something about my notion of this fruit and it’s true significance to myself personally did not sit right with me, so i explores the concept further. i realized that the apple has actually epitomized feelings of deceit and malicious intent since the beginning of human creation: eve, at the urging of lucifer, was seduced by the forbidden fruit of the garden of eden. popularly, iconographic images and artwork of this occurrence portrays the tantalizingly fruit as an apple. similarly, fairy-tales such as “snow white” use the apple as a means for the antagonist to commit their acts of treachery unto the undeserving protagonist. finally, and this has been a rather recent revelation of mine, apples also provide a false sense of security to those suffering from eating disorders like anorexia; the timeless line, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” often becomes a mantra and way of living for those who struggle with the mental illness. there is even a book by a survivor of anorexia called “an apple a day,” which was literally all she ate for numerous years. thus, i would like to explore my newfound awareness of all that the apple possesses the power to signify, especially deceit. my idea for the sculpture is that a large, life - life apple which has been spray painted gold appears whole and devoid of flaws when viewed head - on. however, as the viewer completes a full turn around it, they see that the backside appears rotten, oozing a deeply saturated, highly viscous, reddish - black liquid.
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