Bracelet Cuffs Mural - Split piece

Ive just discovered an interesting relationship between my mural piece consisting of six individual bracelets and something that is known as a Split-Piece

In graffitti their is a term known as a split-piece.What happens is an artist will paint aspects of a mural in separate locations, that actually comprise of one image. The murals are individually photographed and then photoshopped together to make up one image.

Its quite interesting that i have discovered this existing activity, when im almost finished my mural bracelet concept. It would perhaps be more accurate to call it a split piece as the concepts are relatively similar. 

Like my jewelry each piece is  worn individually however when displayed together make up one unified Image.

This is also now a relative relationship based on how and why "Street Jewellery" could be like Street art. 

 An artist who specializes in Split-piece graffitti, is a Capetown based artist by the name of Falco.

Below is an image showing the concept of a split piece which he painted in a rural suburb called Darling just outside Capetown South Africa.

If you look at the image on the outer edges of the image you will see the mural has been painted in four separate locations.

I think overall its a pretty cool concept.

Thanks Falco.

Cuff Bracelet,Mural-Split piece technical process

So i have established a connection with the Split-piece and my Cuff bracelet mural project. I think it needs to be re named as the Split-piece.

This project has taken some time now , and im in the finishing stages of constructing catch mechanisms for each Cuff bracelet. I have chosen once again to use copper for the catch mechanisms, as it is a cheap and easily accessible medium. 

I still have to rivet each mechanism to the end of each cuff, and am hoping to wrap this up by the end of the week.

Lastly i need to construct a square type frame to mount all six cuff bracelets so the image of Malcom X is kind of visible.

Its been a learning process, and there are things i would definitely do differently next time.

I think stacking them one onto of each other would create an easily identifiable image.

Due to the catch components protruding from the edge of each bracelet, there will be slight spaces between each bracelet. When displaying the six bracelets ( 3 set stacked on top of 3 sets)this may make it difficult to identify what the overall image depicts.

 Another issue that came to light was i used paint. I do like the rawness, and i even like the way it has scratched off in the construction process. I thought that next time i could even anodise the aluminium if i wanted to project the bright and colourfull attitude of aerosol paint.

I could all the same re approach this process, and get the aluminium panels laser cutt, and use technology to aid me in the process but it just wouldn't feel the same. 

This process was guided by the phrase "Whatever means necessary" and i think if i had approached it any other way the results would have turned out much differently.

If i were to approach it in a commercial light mabee then i would use technology to aid me but, majority of the materials would be bought bran new and lack the energy and history, that found objects seem to contain.

Cuff bracelet Mural - Split-Piece

Ive just discovered an interesting relationship between my mural piece consisting of six individual bracelets and something that is known as a Split-Piece

In graffitti their is a term known as a split-piece.What happens is an artist will paint aspects of a mural in separate locations, that actually comprise of one image. The murals are individually photographed and then photoshopped together to make up one image.

Its quite interesting that i have discovered this existing activity, when im almost finished my mural bracelet concept. It would perhaps be more accurate to call it a split piece as the concepts are relatively similar. 

Like my jewelry each piece is  worn individually however when displayed together make up one unified Image.

This is also now a relative relationship based on how and why "Street Jewellery" could be like Street art. 

 An artist who specializes in Split-piece graffitti, is a Capetown based artist by the name of Falco.

Below is an image showing the concept of a split piece which he painted in a rural suburb called Darling just outside Capetown South Africa.

If you look at the image on the outer edges of the image you will see the mural has been painted in four separate locations.

I think overall its a pretty cool concept.

Thanks Falco.

Bracelet Cuff- Mural Malcolm X

Last week i worked on the fitting and installation of the record vinyl elements as backing inlays. I chose to use record vinyl as it is representational of music culture.

I could also have used black perspex but like the bricoleur i used indirect means.

I used what was accessible and available.

I like the sheen of record vinyl as it has a visually interesting texture. Its not the easiest medium to work with. 

I also like the idea that the vinyl was once a vehicle  which once told us stories through song and now it conveys a new type of story through its new function.

Malcolm X was a speaker, so mabee its back in its right place.

Mabee to subvert the vinyls application could stand as a metaphor for freedom of expression.

Process

I used silver rivets to connect the record vinyl elements to the back of the aluminium cut outs. When hammering the rivets, i knocked off a bit of the paint.

Im not sure if im going paint over the rivets and the chipped paint or embrace its raw elegance.

There is the risk of getting paint on the vinyl, and i want to maintain the stark contrast between painted metal and vinyl.

I also want to fill in addittional detail, by means of making a cardboard stencil and painting in additional detail.

This conceptual piece has allowed me to venture into an interesting way of thinking. For a while i forgot i was making a Jewellery and the concept kind of blurred the line between sculpture, industrial design and Jewellery.

For the construction of the final six pieces i still have to make 48 rivets and 6 catches before this project proves itself successfull. 

I like the way each bracelet stands independantly as its own intrinsic design, and when placed together make up a whole image.

I still need to make the frame to hold all the bracelets in place for display purposes.