My kite

After watching a programme on Sky Arts about tribal masks in africa i was inspired to take a look at my old photographs from New York where i visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art which had a large section with african sculpture and masks.

I find it fascinating how the human face is represented in these masks as rather brutal, sinister and deformed. Tribes from all different areas of Africa have somehow ended up with this in common.

African masks are used for ritual dances, whether it be to tell a story, commemorate a death or to bring good health.

Inspired by African masks i chose to make a kite using the design of a tribal mask and produce a 3D kite so as it would appear to curve like a mask would.

The aim of my kite is to create my own kite which will perform a ritual dance in the wind as it flies,like African masks are used in tribal dances.



Unfortunately my kite did not fly very well once i took it outside, i think that i did not make it long enough to get a good amount of air inside it. Ether that or adding supports inside to keep its shape may have enabled proper flight.

GIANT kites

Shockingly big blue whale kite! Its a huge 30 meters, makes the sky look like an ocean.

The worlds biggest kite is a massive 10,000 square foot! I love how graceful and light the huge pillow shaped kite flies.

The most popular giant kite appears to be the octopus kite. There are many videos of these huge yet graceful kites, the tentacles float about beautifully in the wind and make the octopus look as though it is swimming through the sky.

Kite Battles

Kite battleing makes the idea of flying kites seem much more exciting. There have been many different types of kite battles, each country having different techniques, kites and rules. The most dangerous of those being the Caribbean kite battles; they attach sharp objects such as knives or razor blades to the tail of their kites in-order to try and slash the opponents kite.

 





The most popular type of kite battling which can be seen regularly at kite festivals is the Rokkaku kite battle which came from Japan. The aim is to either cut the opponents string, tip over the kite thus making it fall to the ground or to block the other kites wind also leaving their kite falling to the ground.

Sky Arts

Having finally got sky TV on my laptop has been a savior, many great programs to chose from including a huge selection of art based programs on Sky Arts.


Art Of Faith travels the world revealing the facinatiing art from different faiths. The most captivating one i have so far watched was on Hinduism and included many shockingly detailed and colourful hand carved buildings including one sculpted from a rock, carved down from the top to end with a huge, stunning temple.






















Fame in the Frame is a series in which an artist does portraits for well known celebrities but does them in the style of famous artworks. Artist John Myatt is the painter who does this show and is actually a former con-artist who ended up in prison for forging artworks. Its good to see he has now put his great skills to some good use.

Accessories

I have experimented with different ways of producing jewelry and other accessories using the two different techniques i am thinking of involving in my final piece.

Firstly i tried out using fabric to create a necklace, i love the torn fabric with the metal pendant, it gives a rather unique and pleasant look.

Below an image of the fabric bracelets i have tries can be seen. I have tried both and frayed edge ones for different looks and used different components on them.  I also made a simple chain bracelet using a chain and large clasp which i admire.

I also experimented with duct tape as a means of creating accessories. 

This one is a plain ring, the silver duct tape creates the effect of a chizzled metal ring.

This tape ring has a fabric bow attached to the front using a small wrap of tape around the center of the bow.

To create this bracelet i used a long length of duct tape and folded it in half. I then cut a slit for the button to come through and attached the other side also using tape.

A wider bracelet has been created here by folding the tape length-wise rather than sideways. The colorful buttons complement the dull gray colour of the tape.

All taped up..

Another sample which i decided to develop further was the use of duct tape in my garment.  I made a top using the tape as a means of joining the seams and finishing hems. The bottom of the top has been tuned under using tape so as it can not be seen but still creates a neat finish.

Although i like the look it has created, it is not the look i am after for my final piece. It is too futuristic and cyber-like.

Chained

For this top i have tried out using chains in different ways such as as fastenings and straps. This was to give me a quick idea of weather using chains in my garment would work or not.




I have used one long chain for the straps to hold the top up, looping it through eyelets and then holding it together with large rings.










At the back i have fastened the top using firstly a velvet lace tie and then a chain looped through eyelets and fastened with a small heart shaped clasp. Using the clasp makes ti easily adjustable and simple to take on and off.

I am satisfied with the look the chains give the garment, they give a quality, edgy and funky appearance to the top.