About the Project: The goal of this project was to create a three-dimensional bug sculpture out of wire, with a focus on building volume rather than mass. We examined and sketched the forms of actual bugs before beginning, carrying over what we learned into the creation of these sculptures. Each wire insect had to have traits borrowed from at least three different insect species, have at least one moving part, and be capable of standing on its own. We had to keep the relationship between form and function in mind while designing our sculptures and were encouraged to come up with “biological facts” that would explain our insects’ unique physiques.
Medium: Wire.
Size: Approximately 121/2” long x 8” wide x 91/2” tall.
Process: This project began with a lot of research into bug species. My aim was to find three insects that were very distinct in body but shared—in my mind—a certain je ne sais quoi that would be conductive to their fusion. I then sketched my three chosen species (an orchid mantis, northern paper wasp, and elephant beetle) and took note of their taxonomy. After that, I made explorative sketches of my fusion bug and used the best design as a basis for the wire sculpture’s blueprint. Following the blueprint, I bent a thick wire into the shape of my insect’s outer body contour, which I then built out from with a grid of thinner wire, separately creating and attaching the shell, limbs, and eyes as I went along. I made additional blueprints for each section of the arms and legs to make sure each part was in proportion and would connect correctly. I was careful not to clump the wire, played with how I could bend, shape, and connect it, and put great effort into pushing the three-dimensionality and posing capabilities of the insect, which I named the Unicorn Mantis.
