Making my own MDF billet

lessons learned

So I constructed a box out of painted MDF and drilled small holes in the bottom for the water to drain out of. Then filled the vessel with sawdust. There after I soaked the sawdust in a diluted pva and water solution. Once the sawdust resembled a thick paste I put the lid on and begun to compress out the excess water. once I had drained out as much water as possible I left it in a warm closet to dry. Then it went moldy. Over a period of weeks it has gradually dried and the mould subsided. in my next attempt I will bike the block at a low temperature to dry it out and kill any fungus or bacteria.

William Kentridge South African (b.1955, Johannesburg)

Machines and projections.

http://www.whitechapelgallery.org/exhibitions/william-kentridge/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pc2Yi3SU7k

Thick Time

The Whitechapel Gallery

• Kentridge’s sculptures perform a number of different roles in the show. Sometimes they are the projection surface or sometimes they are the projector or aid/ alter the projection in some way.
• His pieces move in a very smooth mechanical way. This often is necessary for the projection
• I find is aesthetic appealing as it in a way is similar to mine

80 year old japanese toy maker

Masaaki Hiroi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbWeaeyOenY

Old guy with loads of energy, still making wooden mechanical kids toys. His energy and creativity are commendable for someone that old. His energy and excitement for hi craft come across in his designs and his personality

Simone Gertz “The queen of shitty Robots”

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3KEoMzNz8eYnwBC34RaKCQ

Creates comical “labour saving” robots and performs with them for youtube videos. She maintains a perfect, serious deadpan or only reacts to the robot as if it were completely normal which only adds the the humour of her performances. These robots often go hilariously wrong and instead of panicking the straight faced and serious composure of the performer makes it seem as though the mess the robot just caused was almost intentional.  

Machine with oil

This piece interested me because of its mechanical complexity. Which is in juxtaposition to its function which is simple just to keep re oiling itself. I enjoy the aesthetic of the repetitive motion that carries the piece. The mechanics attract the viewer and invite them to pick apart how it works while comparing the repetitive motion to their own lives and their own routines.

Machine with roller chain

Machine with abandoned doll

This machine is intrinsically creepy. Any use of an abandoned children’s’ toy creates a connotation then the way that it’s moved my the machine makes my think about control and our relationship with technology. Makes me think of the matrix as well partially due to the black paint and the long thin wire connecting the machine and the doll.