Chapter 3 - Phases of a Flower Reflection

Reflection:

van der Linden, A., (2019) Phases of a Flower,
Installation in Copper and Sterling Silver

After reading the Phases of a Flower poem, I see that there is a clear element of personification present where the flower is personified as a human female. I can see this through the use of the words “she”, “her” and “dancing”. I can also see that there is a progression present where the flower starts off as “young” and “weak” describing a bud and further down in the poem, words such as “tall” and “strength” are used to describe the mature flower.

I feel that the poem may describe a personal metaphor, where I see myself or an aspect of myself as the flower where the progression of the flower is a metaphor of the progression of an aspect of my life. I think that this installation may be a metaphor of my 5 year study period at the Durban University of Technology and the thoughts and emotions I experienced regarding this period of my life. Now that I am nearing the end of my B-tech, I realize that I have grown as a person and as an artist and that I have developed many new skills and knowledge allowing me to be confident enough to start a business on my own. I have also realized that there are many new opportunities awaiting me and that it is a start of a new phase in my life.

Chapter 3 - Phases of a Flower Poem

Phases of a Flower Poem:

van der Linden, A., (2019). Phases of a Flower Installation,
Copper and Sterling Silver

Phases of a Flower

Her eyes shut closed tight
Delicate, young and naïve
she conceals her face

Tiny leaves still weak,
stiff and stocky, out of place,
she has much to learn

She starts to open,
blooming and growing stronger
a growing flower

embracing changes
waiting in anticipation
for her to unfold

She has shown her face
blooming in strength and courage
growing confidence

Petals are dancing
in choreographed movement
nearing her summer

Standing in full bloom
she is tall and confident
her head is up high

Courageous and bold
she’s a tactile temptation,
her beauty to hold

She’s falling apart
scattering petals around
swept up by the wind

And sowing her seeds
she deposits her knowledge
of new beginnings

Phases of a Flower

Phases of a Flower

Figure 21 - van der Linden, A., (2019) Phases of a Flower, sculptural installation design sketch

 Figure 21 shows the design sketch of Phases of a Flower

‘Phases of a Flower’ are a set of five individual pieces each with their own symbolic meaning. Together, these individual pieces from one installation piece that becomes the metaphor of my study period at DUT. The installation consists of a set of five sculptural pieces in oxidized copper and sterling silver that realistically resemble flowers in different phases of a life cycle from a bud to a wilting flower. I have made these pieces to mimic nature in form and movement by creating the petals to move in the last three flowers. Movement has allowed this installation to become very tactile and sensory-stimulating to the senses of sight and sound. View the different flowers, Bud, Transitioning, Fresh, Mature and Wilting)

I was inspired by the ‘Magrietjie’ flower. The ‘Magrietjie’ is the Afrikaans name for the Marguerite Daisy, a common daisy-like flowering plant that comes in many different colours. It is also a plant that has a personal significance to me as it made up a part of my childhood. My mum had a 'Magrietjie' bush growing in the garden. Growing up, I remember playing with these flowers and the feeling of rubbing the petals across my fingers.

I have included the element of movement in the last three pieces so that there is a strong tactile element present when the flowers are picked up and touched by a viewer. The gentle feeling of the metal flower between my fingers allows me to think back to when I was a young girl and I used to pick flowers from the garden and play with their petals, bringing about a nostalgic feeling. I hope that the viewers of my piece will have a similar nostalgic experience when they engage with my pieces.

Chapter 3 - Wilting

Wilting:

Figure 26 - van der Linden, A., (2019)
Wilting Flower in copper and
sterling silver

This piece makes up the last flower in my Installation, Phases of a flower. I have created the metal flower in this phase to resemble a flower that is wilting. Its petals are not attached and with one touch they drop to the ground. This will bring about an element of surprise and it will add to the sensual experience of the viewer. See figure 26 above.

Chapter 3 - Mature

Mature:

Figure 25 - van der Linden, A., (2019)
Mature in copper and
sterling silver

This is the fourth piece that makes up my installation, Phases of a Flower. This piece resembles a mature flower that has reached its peak growth point. The mature flower’s petals have fully extended to their maximum potential to fully reveal the inside face. See figure 25 above.

Chapter 3 - Mature

Mature:

Figure 25 - van der Linden, A., (2019)
Mature in copper and
sterling silver

This is the fourth piece that makes up my installation, Phases of a Flower. This piece resembles a mature flower that has reached its peak growth point. The mature flower’s petals have fully extended to their maximum potential to fully reveal the inside face. See figure 25 above.

Chapter 3 - Fresh

Fresh:

Figure 24 - van der Linden, A., (2019)
Fresh in copper and
sterling silver

This piece makes up the third and middlemost piece of my installation, Phases of a Flower. In this phase of a daisy flower, the petals have separated from the centre to slightly reveal its centermost point which is the stamen. The flower is crisp and fresh, not yet open to its maximum. The petals are significantly larger than those of previous piece and they are up in the air. I have allowed the petals in this piece to move around. See figure 24 above

Chapter 3 - Transitioning

Transitioning:

Figure 23 - van der Linden, A., (2019)
Transitioning in copper and
sterling silver

This is the second flower of my Phases of a Flower installation. In this phase, the bud is visibly larger than the previous picture and it is opening-up slightly and revealing more of its internal petal layers. In this piece, the petals are larger than those of the previous piece, although some of the petals are opening up, the centre of the flower remains concealed underneath the petals. See figure 23 above.

Chapter 3 Bud

Bud:

Figure 22 - van der Linden, A., (2019)
Bud in copper and sterling silver

This is the first piece in my Phases of a flower installation. I created the Bud piece to resemble a tight bud with closed petals that do not move. The petals are made in sterling silver and the structure resembling a flower’s sepals (the casing that the silver petals are set inside), leaves and stem are made from copper. See figure 22 above

Chapter 3 - He Loves Me

He Loves Me

Figure 19 - van der Linden, A., (2019)
He Loves Me, Earrings in sterling silver
with pearls and cubic zirconia beads

This piece was created from sterling silver with pearls and Cubic Zirconia Beads.  This piece was also made to move using the petal slot method.  See figure 19:

He Loves Me…

Damaged flowers, torn
Petals plucked out, imperfect
they seek completion

When placed together,
they fill the empty spaces
and two become one

Insignificant
are their pasts, love now shines through
 they are whole again

He Loves Me was inspired by the game known as 'he loves me he, loves me not' a game played by picking the petals off of a flower and saying: “he loves me”, “he loves me not” with each petal that is pulled off in hopes of determining whether a crush's feelings are mutual.  

The below poem was constructed using phrases and words from a page of free writing

Chapter 3 - Silhouettes

Silhouettes

Figure 18 - van der Linden, A., (2019)
Silhouettes, Neckpiece in
sterling silver

Silhouettes  is a neckpiece that I created to resemble the leaves and stem of the gooseberry plant in sterling silver. 

Silhouettes

Reflections dancing
in a ring, bound together
a golden embrace

Twigs casting Shadows
silhouettes in light and dark
changing your angle

Illumination

Shines light on new perspectives

shifting paradigms

The Idea of using the silhouette of the plant came from the image taken of the drying gooseberry plant, the shadow cast by the actual plant. I created the piece by using the silhouette created by the gooseberry plants when viewed at different angles. I sketched the gooseberry plant from different angles and I used these sketches as templates which I pierced out of sterling silver. See figure 18:

chapter 3 - Pods on a Branch

Pods on a Branch

Figure 17 - van der Linden, A., (2019)
Pods on a Branch, Sculptural Piece,
Sterling Silver and copper

Pods on a Branch is a sculptural piece that I constructed using the copper gooseberry pod elements that I created beforehand. This piece consists of five copper gooseberries on a sterling silver branch. The branch was created by fusing and soldering together silver wires. The texture was produced by reticulating and by scribing lines into the surface using the sharp edge of a setting bur. Pictured in figure 17

Pods on a Branch
Vessels on a twig
are tremoring in tandem
dancing in rhythm

Each one containing
something of significance
some large, others small

Balanced together
some may fall, new ones will grow
in empty spaces

Chapter 3 - Produce

Produce

Figure 16 - van der Linden, A., (2019)
Produce, Brooch, copper, sterling
silver and pearl

This piece is inspired by a quick drawing that I made See figure 15 below. Produce is the final Brooch that I created by assembling the copper gooseberry pods. I created this piece by arranging three oxidized pods next to each other, two larger ones and one small one. One of the larger ones contains a bright white pearl. I mounted them on a domed surface attached to a brooch pin. See figure 16 to view the final piece.

Produce

a hard, husky shell
work-hardened, tediously
producing a pearl

In a somber pod
lies a bright, brilliant fruit
of determination

Figure 15 - van der Linden, A., (2019)
Produce brooch design sketch

Chapter 3 - Ruptured

Ruptured:

Figure 14 – van der Linden, A., (2019)
Ruptured, Brooch, Sterling Silver

This prototype was constructed using sterling silver. Figure 14

RupturedBranches, broken, bare
Pods withered, wrinkled in time
Ruptured to reveal

A dormant cavity
Barren, empty and forlorn
Lacking produce

For this piece, I did not use the copper gooseberry prototypes that I made beforehand; instead, I made new gooseberry pods in sterling silver as I was curious to see if sterling silver would make as good pods as copper. To my advantage, reticulation occurred when I applied too much heat to the thin gooseberry pods creating a withered appearance on the pod surfaces.

Chapter 3 -Pod-o-type

Serendipity Prototypes: 

I created prototype pieces in copper and silver before working in platinum for the final PlatAfrica piece. For my first two prototypes of serendipity, I created a design before making final pieces, see figure 12:

Figure 13 - van der Linden, A., (2019)
Pod-o-type, design sketch

‘Pod-o-type’

The first prototype consists of a sterling silver branch with textured leaves and attached to rotating pivots are three of the copper gooseberry elements that I created beforehand. Figure 13 is an image of the Pod-o-type piece:

Figure 13 - van der Linden, A., (2019)
Pod-o-type, Copper and sterling silver

Finished Pieces - Serendipity

Serendipity:

Figure 10 - van der Linden, A., (2019)
Serendipity, Brooch, Platinum,
gold plating and a round pearl

Serendipity is the title of the final platinum brooch piece that I created for the 2019 PlatAfrica competition, Figure 10. 

Poem:

Serendipity:Delicate leaves shine
in the sun, fueling the growth
Of tiny vessels

Serendipities
Within three delicate wombs,
swelling, maturing

The sun’s radiance
Rupturing and revealing
A golden surprise

This piece is made entirely in platinum to resemble a twig from a Cape gooseberry bush. It consists of three gooseberry pods that increase in size with the third pod opening up to reveal a pearl. The three pods are placed on a branch with branches of leaves. Each gooseberry is fixed on a rotating pivot allowing the pods to move around when the body moves.

Below is a poem written to give meaning to Serendipity. I was constructed from pages of freewriting: 

Chapter 3 Serendipity Reflection

Reflection:

van der Linden, A., (2019) Serendipity,
Platinum and Pearl Brooch

Freewriting and constructing poems from these freewriting segments has helped me to put to paper emotions and feeling that are difficult to describe in words. The words in the poem that were extracted from above segments of free writing have helped to describe the inexpressible meanings of the Serendipity jewellery piece.

Upon analysis of the Serendipity poem, I recognize that it may be linked to an expression of growth or personal development through the use of the words describing the growing gooseberry pods. Words such as ‘swelling’ and ‘maturing’ may suggest improvement or enlargement linking to growth and development.  The poem may also be linked to an unexpected event or happening through the use of the words ‘serendipities’, ‘revealing’ and ‘surprise’.

On a personal stance, I believe that Serendipity may be a metaphor to express how I feel when creating jewellery. When I make jewellery, I prefer to ‘play’ with prototypes as opposed to making a design sketch and commencing with creating a finished object. During the sessions of ‘playing’ with prototypes and unfinished pieces, I often learn new techniques by making and assessing and then improving the prototypes. This may be linked to the tones of growth and development mentioned in the poem above. During the making of prototypes, I have often discovered that interesting and unexpected results may occur when making a new design. When this occurs, I have experienced an internal rush of excitement or euphoria, this happening may be linked to the tones of ‘surprise’ found in the poem. I have created Serendipity according to my knowledge and past experiences and I am aware that the audience viewing Serendipity may not perceive this jewellery piece in the same way as what I did. They will draw up different meanings and opinions based on their personal subjective meaning.

Chapter 3 Making Flowers - Casings

Flower Casings: 

I have also discovered a method to recreate the sepals of a flower. It consists of chasing fold lines into a disc of metal and then pressing the disc into a dome to allow the grooves to fold within each other to form a structure resembling the sepals of a flower. I created these parts from copper as copper is easily worked.

Figure 7 shows the template used to create the sepals:

Figure 7 - van der Linden, A., (2019)
construction of the sepals

Figure 8 shows how the templates are punched to create grooves:

Figure 8 - van der Linden, A., (2019)
construction of the sepals

Figure 9 shows the complete sepal:

Figure 9 - van der Linden, A., (2019)
construction of the sepals

Chapter 3 Making Flowers- Petals

Making Flowers:

Moving Petals

I created my flower designs so that their petals are able to move. I used a pivot system to allow the petals to move around freely. These pivots were created by cutting slits into a round disc of metal plate and then sliding the petals; that have narrower strips attached to the ends; into these slits. I then rolled up the ends of these strips to act as stoppers, preventing the petals from slipping out. This technique allows the petals to move around without slipping out. Casings were constructed to cover the mechanisms.
Figure 4 is a technical drawing showing how the petals are attached:

Figure 4 van der Linden, A., (2019)
Slots on a disc with petals.
Technical drawing Generated
on Rhino 6

Figure 5 shows the construction of the inner discs that will hold the petals in place

Figure 5 - van der Linden, A., (2019)
Slots on a disc of sterling silver

I have created stamen like structures, to be soldered onto the centre of the slotted discs. These structures are made by punching dots into an annealed piece of 0.6mm metal. The reverse ends of these structures resemble the stamen parts of flowers. See figure 6

Figure 6 - van der Linden, A.,
(2019) creation of the stamen in
sterling silver

Chapter 3 Making Gooseberry Pods

Making Gooseberry Pods:

I created my gooseberry pods by rolling out a metal sheet to about 0.25 or 0.3mm thick. I then cut out shapes resembling a five-point flower. Afterwards, I punched grooves down the centre of each ‘petal’ with my flat punch and I bent up the edges of each petal. After annealing, I bent the petals around a ball punch to complete the shape of the gooseberry pods.

Figure 2 is an image of an unfinished pod:

Figure 2 - van der Linden, A., (2019) Copper
gooseberry pod prototypes

Figure 3 is an image of a few complete pods:

Figure 3 - van der Linden, A., (2019) Copper
gooseberry pod prototypes