Manikin

Additive sculpture.

The inspiration for this sculpture was the manikin models that artists use for anatomical reference. The challenge was to make a manikin that was hollow inside, proportional, and could be repositionable.

To achieve this I created a smaller anatomically accurate sculpture which I cut into the major pieces. I wrapped these pieces in saran wrap and then covered them in a very thin layer of clay. This clay was then shaped and adjusted while still wet. I created ball joints with a tiny metal rod to be the anchor for the string that would hold the figure together. I created a wire armature for the delicate hands and molded clay around. When it dried, I sanded the sculpture to be more smooth and symmetrical. Then I tied a string to one of the anchors and pulled it through to the other hand using a wire hook and attached it to the other hand anchor. This held the otherwise unattached arms close to the body and allowed me to rotate them around the joint. I did the same thing with the feet and legs and anchored that string around the other.

The figure is able to move about the arms, legs, hands, and feet.