Forged tin with polished patina, leather binding
The inspiration for this project was actually derived from a previous one about clutter. I observed cluttered environments around me, creating visual studies of these spaces and collating the similarities that linked them. This then led me onto researching the causes and effects of clutter, specifically the mental aspects and how clutter affects the brain. So I used the idea of protection within my piece, to create an adornment that acted as a form of protection for the brain/body as a whole. From this development, I delved into body amour, specifically traditional Roman battle amour (Lorica Segmentata). Employing aesthetic qualities from Lorica Segmentata and combining them with my idea of protection for the brain, I used a forging technique I developed through trial and error which gave me the desired brain-like effect to the tin.
The piece is ironic, in a way, as it represents an attempt to protect the body from the human condition, stemming from the brain - but what use is physical amour when the harm is caused internally and innately?
This piece won Runner Up at the Tin Plate Awards from The Worshipful Company of Tin Plate Workers.
Patinated steel test pieces - I really loved the finish left after annealing the steel