Noted Gesture

Christopher Luper

MFA Thesis Exhibition

            This exhibition aims to break free of representational image and the confines of a 2-d canvas through abstraction. I came into this program as a painting major and switched to sculpture/foundry in order to achieve this. The mindset of a gestural brushstroke was utilized in the original wooden form to call back to my painterly background and expounded upon by digital interpretations. The wooden forms were built up segment by segment following a loose spiral pattern then digitally scanned/ rendered, and broken back apart again. The spiral is an innate pattern that shows itself in everything around us from galaxies to DNA; relatable in its wide-reaching existence. Through the process of transforming them into digital models and cast metal, I was able to reflect on the initial spontaneity of the gestural mark and fit each one with a complimentary finish, texture, or partnered form. The polished finish on the plane-cut of each segment is representational of the reflectivity of this process, others have a mirrored image built in; if only in a segmented/augmented form. The combination of a patinated surface and a high polish calls attention to the segmentation and invites the viewer to join the works visually. I have to honor and respect the process of metal casting with its rich history as well as the great strides into the contemporary world of digital prototyping.

            For me the greatest part of creating this work was the sense of community built within the foundry world. Cast metal is an extremely dangerous and magical process which requires an attentive mind, patience, and a cooperative effort. This work would not be here without the help and support from every one in the foundry community (ASU, Bollinger Atelier) or my social/ family circle. With this I show much thanks to everyone who helped throughout the process; even if you don’t think you helped much, you did. Much love