✹ West Dean rescidency #1
5th July 2021
Finally, this week has come! The worshipful company of fan maker has given us, the winner of the fan competition, the residency to West Dean College of Arts and Conservation for a week. This is the first time ever that I have been in the residency, it’s located in Chichester which is 2 hours by train from London. Luckily, the weather was nice, not much rain and not too hot during the day. The place is marvellous, the field in front of the main building was full of sheep on the right there is the gardens that is also beautiful.
The first workshop that we had was Plastic workshop, we did some experiment with polypropylene sheet and acrylic. I tried to manipulate polypropylene sheet using different technique - colouring it with colour pencil the colour embed in the material when heated up) ironing the sheet (polypropylene becomes more sticky when heated, I found that It can melt and stick together without other joining method) Then I continue trying to create a pattern from joining two colour of plastic sheet together with iron. Pierce it, cut it, melt the crayon on it. Also, joining the material with heat is interesting, so I tried to form 3 dimensional form by soldering pen. Kind of showing the seam and maybe it can be develop to functional object like vase.
Later that day, we had Wood bending workshop with Stephano, our tutor that will later guild us through the week. The principle of wood bending was easier than what I thought. When wood was steamed, it becomes more flexible. Although, we need some tool to help the wood to bend without cracking. Stephano has made this tool using metal ruler that works pretty well with the process. Once we understand the principle we have got to make ‘The creative cloud’ Basically, it’s a hanging sculpture that was made by this technique.
It was really fun and interactive activity. After a long, boring lockdown in my own room, having done something like this with other people kind of giving me an energy and creative idea. In this activity we have divided into 2 teams - one with all Chelsea student and the other is me, my class mate, Annabel, and one Chelsea student - Owen. Ours cloud looks more organic as it was an improvised process. We kind of making and thinking at the same time, no solid sketch. But in the other hand Chelsea team looks so rigid, geometrical as, I assume, how product design student think. It was fun and exciting. Only one day we have learned 2 new skill already.
