The Metal Object Art Project

Several years ago, while navigating the roads of Shanghai in a taxi, we came across a road called Beijing Dong Lu. We were looking for some simple building materials as the graduation class were hanging the IB Visual Arts show.  Travelling with one of the senior students, Francesca, (now a fashion designer in Italy) we stumbled upon this street with our taxi driver.   There were blocks and blocks of shops selling building materials.  Specifically, there were several blocks of shops that sold nothing but obscure (to me) metal hardware pieces.  Knowing very little about the function of many of these little metal objects, I was enamoured by the "objects de arte" and their beauty.

Quickly, I started buying up these wonderful little objects.  As I didn't have any idea what these objects were for, I based my purchases completely on form. The shop keeper was very amused by my purchases and my ignorance of the function of any of the items purchased. Back to the gallery we went, carrying the objects and excited to show them to the student-artists.  We admired the shapes and textures of the objects for a short while, then got back to work, hanging the show.  Over the next months, I surrounded myself with over a dozen of these pieces, knowing that somehow, someday, these works would inspire art-making.  I didn't know how and didn't know when.  It took about a year before I decided that I would need to share these objects with my IB art students.

And so, in 2007, the Metal Object Project was born.  Rather than placing the objects on a table and asking the students to "choose one, " I decided that I would wrap the objects separately in wrapping paper and have every student in the class choose a wrapped gift.  The introduction of the project has become quite ritualistic. Recently when introducing the project at school, I placed yoga matts in a circle and had every student come into the room and chose a gift. As the metal objects are of various sizes, shapes and weights, I ask the students not to shake or  feel the wrapped packages  but to choose their package from a distance, based on the information they could read from brightly coloured packages.

One by one, we went around the circle and students were asked to open their object in front of the class.  It is interesting to watch the reaction, sometimes students are instantly excited about their metal piece, others are more reserved while others try to hide their disappointment, comparing their metal piece with their neighbour's.  Introducing the project in Shanghai was easier to coordinate thanks to the amazing little street that inspired me: Beijing Dong Lu.  In Hong Kong, shops are not centralised to the same degree and there is no mega hardware stores here like B&Q or Home Depot.  As a result, the metal object offerings were more eclectic.  I found some objects at a recycle depot by the shipyards.  There were some interesting rusty, oiled-up pieces there.  While other pieces were purchased at the local hardware stores.

         

                       

  

 The project brief was simple. Create a work of art in any medium that is inspired by this piece of metal. The metal object may or may not be included in the final work of art. Students were required to come up with three proposals in their workbooks.  The merits of each would be discussed in class before a decision was made by the student, allowing for class and teacher feedback.  Each student was also required to create a "technical challenge" for themselves in the media chosen and at the end they would be able to talk about their technical growth as well as the conceptual elements of the project.

This project has been one of the most exciting ones introduced over the years.  An object can be a great starting point for a project if all the elements are right and it is introduced at the right stage for the students.  From time-based performance pieces to installations to detailed drawings, these metal pieces have inspired some innovative art works.  Students are given a  list of contemporary artists to research for inspiration.  Artists who work with non-traditional materials are included on this list.  Students may draw inspiration from Arthur Ganson's kinetic sculpture.

Cloud by Arthur Ganson http://www.arthurganson.com/  

or Janine Antoni's performative work http://www.artinamericamagazine.com/features/janine-antoni/   or Cai Guo Qiang's explosive works http://www.caiguoqiang.com/ to name a few.

http://dailyserving.com/2010/08/cai-guo-qiang/02-cai-guo-qiang-head-on-vortex/

The direction students take with this unit is often fascinating.  A metal piece with a hinge that opens and closes can resemble a heart beat for one student, leading her on a path of research and exploration. While the complexity of another metal piece can remind another student of the inner workings of the human brain.  Often very personal connections are made instantly with this project.   It is amazing how a cold, metal object can inspire the personal memories and bring out students' humanity.

So, later this month is the inaugural show of our school art gallery at CDNIS.  The first show that is schedules is: The Metal Object Show.  A number of Grade Eleven students will be installing their metal pieces.  For many students this was the most successful and exciting piece they have created thus far in the course so the show should be an interesting one.

Stay tuned for more photos and a review of the show.