Coursework in progress...

Who could have thought that coursework was so brain-wrecking. I've been thinking about the theme since the December holidays, from hope to death, from nature to artificiality......and I finally settled on deforestation. Not a very popular theme I admit. Deforestation is so common that it has just been accepted as a way of life.

Deforestation = more land = agriculture = more food
                                        = housing = population growth
                                        = factories = economic development
                                        = ......

For various reasons, politicians and developers claims that it is necessary for deforestation in order for a country to grow and have economic progress. Since the past, forests have been removed and trees have been chopped and burnt down on a large scale all in the name of money and development.
The way I see it,

Deforestation = loss of habitats = endangerment and even extinction of species
                     = desertification
                     = drastic climate changes
                     = Global Warming
                     =......

For our own selfish reasons, we have chose to neglect the detrimental harm and irreversible damage that deforestation has on the Earth and ultimately our way of life. Like animals, we are merely inhabitants of the Earth. What right do we have of changing the very land we stand for our selfish reasons and then affecting every animal and species? (be it pollution, deforestation for land for growing crops, grazing, genetically modified agriculture, etc.)

Having said that, I do realise that in order to keep up with the growing world population, agriculture and farming as well as more land is required for sufficient food and housing. However, man ought to realise the harm and damage that he has brought to the Earth and try to reduce or correct this damage. What struck me the most was the indifferent and 'heck care' attitute that some has to man's actions.

In my coursework, I would address this issue and deem deforestation as unacceptable and even immoral/inhumane. Therefore, I suppose the art work has to evoke shock and horror in the viewers and hopefully change the mindset and attitute of some to deforestation.

Wire sculpting

chanced across this metal wire sculpture of an escalator while googling for inspiration over the December holidays. At first sight, I thought it was a rough sketch of the escalator, but upon closer look, it's actually made of a bundle of metal wires, creatively and skillfully bent to that shape. This artwork is a wire sculpture of an escalator by Fritz Panzer. Indeed a very meticulous and amazing piece, to be able to create the frame of an escalator solely from wires.

I was reminded of the wire bookmarks that some bookstores sell, and was inspired to make some myself. And so I did...

I bought the metal wire at value dollar and formed these simple shapes of the flower, heart, leaf, fish, butterfly and star. It was really simple to make. But I suppose the thing with wires is that once it is bent, it will be hard to bend it back to make it straight again. In other words, the shape of the wires are permanent once it is formed. Therefore it is important to picture the product before starting on the project.


Making bookmarks are simple and great as simple gifts to friends. However, it can be a real trouble if the sculpture is done on a large scale, and due to the permanent nature of the wire, I believe that I would not be making a sculpture entirely of wires. Making bookmarks is one thing, doing coursework is another.