Making of 6 Planes Message Received
The piece arose out of a question of how to visually articulate a transformative experience, a fusion of my personal self into a larger whole, the idea of oneness.
Today I’m walking you through the process behind the piece which took 74 to make.
In week one the initial idea was formed, a filmed poetry performance in a local forest, wearing a hand-constructed mushroom costume, 3 minutes in length.
Initial Concept Sketches
Late-night skip bin dives and collecting white cardboard from multiple sources.
Started constructing the mushroom armature out of chicken wire and plumbing pipe, joined by bamboo segments.
Wrote and recorded the spoken word script.
Connected with musician Elijah to collaborate on the score
Mushroom Cap Armature
After trying the cap on and realising the shape was wrong, I trimmed and reshaped the original wire armature. I also began the process of applying paper mache using a flour and water mix. Waited for the layers to dry and repeated the process.
Paper Mache onto wire armature
This week I did a deep dive into Oskar Schlemmers’s Triadic ballet which caused a reimagining of my original costume design. My initial costume sketch was based on an Amanita Muscaria mushroom utilising white cardboard for the stem. I sketched up some new potential designs after watching a reconstruction of the ballet by Margarete Hastings in 1970 and landed on one design. Excited by the gold reference to the Golden Teacher mushroom and the six black hoops to represent the planes.
Sketches inspired by Oskar Schlemmer’s Triadic Ballet
I was also inspired by the stylised movements of the ballet and began creating the movement for the piece.
At this stage, I needed to find new ways to achieve the desired smoothness of the mushroom cap. I watched cosplay tutorials, bought some EVA foam, and added it over the top of the paper mache form. I then did 2 more layers of paper mache, using a glue/water mix, as the previous flour/water mix encountered mould issues. I also decided to add two wire circles to help with the structure of the cap (one at the top and one at the bottom). I cut the wire, straightened it, and then hand-stitched it to the foam.
After the foam and paper mache layers, I was still unable to achieve the degree of smoothness I wanted. I did more research and landed on experimented with paper mache clay. The first layer of clay was applied quite thick, requiring three days to dry.
Repeated the process of applying paper mache clay and then waiting for each layer to dry. I also was able to remove the initial paper mache form (that had suffered from mold issues).
In between drying, I started sewing. I purchased black fabric and sewed 6 tubes that would become the hoops running up and down the mushroom stem.
Constructing the tubes
Week 8, involved working on the choreography which was sent through to Elijah to assist with score development. Ben helped me do test videos in chosen locations to work out the best final location.
Sewed straps for the stem and a white material tube that would form the base of the mushroom stem. Attaching the black hoops involved pinning them one at a time, doing an initial hand stitch, and then a final row of tight hand-stitching. I wanted equal spacing between the hoops which meant meticulous measuring and sewing readjustments.
Hand-stitching
Painted shoes with acrylic paint. Gesso and sanded mushroom cap, still unhappy with the smoothness so had to abandon the initial idea of covering the cap in gold leaf and instead purchase some gold fabric. Hand-sewed the gold fabric onto the cap. Padding was sewn into the underside of the cap, to make it more comfortable to wear, and two handles added so the cap could be held and manipulated whilst performing.
On the day of filming, I tried on the costume, realised the stem straps would be visible, so covered the straps in black fabric (hand-stitched!).
Painted nails, did makeup, and had gold leaf applied to my hair by Ben.
Drove to the chosen location and did 4 takes. Wearing the costume made it impossible to see my footing. I did spy two (maybe three!) snakes and one sleepy toad that I prayed, every take, I wouldn’t accidentally step on.
Came home and scrubbed the gold leaf out of my hair!
Edited film and sent off to Elijah to create the score. Got feedback that my initial audio recording wasn’t clear so did multiple audio tests and then one final recording.
You can see the completed piece over on my ‘WORK‘ page.
/Weeks later and tiny splattering of gold remain.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Special mention to The Path, a Creative Development Intensive, designed and facilitated by Kellie O’Dempsey and supported by ArtsCoast, Sunshine Coast Council and Noosa Council. 6 Planes Message Received was conceived and developed via the program which allowed my practice to delve into new lines of inquiry, through exploration and play.
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