I am currently looking at Pearl's as part of my practice, this being influenced by my recent works that include the sea and discarded materials. Pearls are made by irritants or parasites working their way into a shell and latching onto it looking for a home. The Shell then defends itself from this intrusion by secreting a protective liquid which coats the intruder. Layer upon Layer the irritant becomes a Pearl. A unique object that brings in great value all over the world. It also has been used as a statement of femininity.
I used toilet paper, water and glue to create a thick paste, that I then layered onto a Spherical balloon. All together it took 4 days to dry through completely. I then added a second layer, this time I mixed pink pearl spray paint into the paste. I thought this was better than spraying it as it would have a more natural effect.
The creation of this Pearl has reminded me of childhood arts and crafts lessons doing paper Mache to make planets for science classes. In a way even its smell of the PVA is nostalgic. But, when people see this Pearl piece in a gallery or online and ask me how I made a beautiful big Pearl. I'll tell them it's toilet paper, but pretty and round. Perceptions and notions around what the work is will change. Ideas of beauty will be converted to ideas of the bodily functions.
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