EMOTIONS
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The series of heads have been almost festering in my mind for many years but could never find a time and place to visualise themselves.
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Emotions are certain feelings we experience and express through our minds and our bodies. Emotions are motivations for our actions. The process of making the sculptures is almost following our life experiences. Starting with the raw clay and making the clean raw sculpture that will never be visible to world. It is almost a private view of the soul of the sculptures. I then start applying engobes and color, the life experiences that start to impact on our lives. Still fragile. The sculptures are then fired and these masks becomes permanent. Then with the final sawdust firing the mask are adjusted to what we show to the world and is complete.
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EMOTIONS is a series of 8 sculptures using the 8 basic or primary emotions identified by Robert Plutchick in 1980 as a starting point. The sculptures are not an attempt to deal with the identification of emotions rather creating awareness of the complexity of these emotions. The ideal would be for us to be able to identify, understand and react to these emotions in others in normal social engagement.
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Darwin's The expressions of the emotions in man and animals was a landmark work which is still used as a source.[2] The following list is taken from the chapter-headings in the book, Suffering and weeping, Low spirits, anxiety, grief, dejection, despair, Joy, high spirits, love, tender feelings, devotion, Reflection, meditation, ill-temper, sulkiness, determination, Hatred and anger, Disdain, contempt, disgust, guilt, pride, helplessness, patience, affirmation and negation, Surprise, astonishment, fear, horror, Self-attention, shame, shyness, modesty, blushing.
The book is famous as being the first scientific book which used photographs as a major part of the evidence. Emotions, he decided, were behavioural traits which evolved. Darwin pointed out how the human face is adapted to show many of these emotions: it has muscles for facial movements which are not possible in other mammals.
One of the interesting observations is that the command of language to express emotions, is of great importance and the reason for using these words in the sculptures. An emotional vocabulary is one in which language accurately describes how you are feeling. Children, especially boys have a very limited vocabulary to express their emotions.
SCULPTURE: 1 of 8: ECSTASY
Joy, Serenity, Calmness
CONNECTED, Affectionate, Compassionate, Loving, Loved, Sensual, Caring, Grateful, Passionate, Accepted
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SCULPTURE: 2 of 8: ADMIRATION
Trust, Acceptance, Courage
AWED, Curious, Moved, Inspired, Impressed, Engaged
SCULPTURE: 3 of 8: TERROR
Fear, Apprehension, Submission, Scared, Vulnerable
Affraid, Panicked, Overwhelmed, Restless, Anxious, Confused, Frantic, Nervous, Worried, Hesitant, Terrified
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SCULPTURE: 4 of 8: AMAZEMENT
Surprise, Distraction
HAPPY, Alive, Excited, Joyful, Carefree, Ecstatic, Motivated, Delighted, Playful
SCULPTURE: 5 of 8: GRIEF
Sadness, Pensiveness, Disapproval
SAD, Grief, Lonely, Disappointed, Hopeless, Depressed, Miserable, Empty, Lost, Regretful, Disconnected, Bored
SCULPTURE: 6 of 8: LOATHING
Disgust, Boredom, Contempt
DISGUSTED, Shocked, Hateful, Dislike
ASHAMED, Guilty, Embarrassed, Insignificant, Humiliated, Awkward, Insecure, Worthless
SCULPTURE: 7 of 8: RAGE
Anger, Annoyance, Aggressiveness, Cruelty​
ANGRY, Furious, Annoyed, Jealous, Helpless, Enraged, Frustrated, Impatient, Irritable, Resentful
SCULPTURE: 8 of 8: VIGILANCE
Anticipation, Interest, Optimism
PROUD, Confident, Capable, Determined, Strong, Fulfilled, Brave, Appreciated, Honoured, Respected
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The sculptures are bigger than life size to place the emphasis on the wording and language rather than the features of the individuals. I am in the process of making pedestals for each of the sculptures.
