Dream tree

Rochester Institute of Technology

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Thesis/Dissertation Collections

5-20-1995

Dream tree

Kyoung-Choul Cha

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Recommended Citation

ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF

TECHNOLOGY

A

Thesis Submitted

to the

Faculty

of

The

College

of

Imaging

Arts

and

Sciences

in

Candidacy

for

the

Degree

of

MASTER

OF

FINE

ARTS

DREAM TREE

By

Cha,

Kyoung-Choul

Adviser: Leonard Urso

-Date:

Lbv

•

I

IS)

/9CfS

(

Associate Adviser: Mark Stanitz

_

Date:

Associate Adviser: Michael Taylor

_

Department Chairperson: Michael White

_

Date:

?f18/9'~

I,

, prefer to be contacted each time a request for reproduction

is made. I can be reached at the following address:

Cha, Kyoung-Choul

114-903 Han Kang Hyun-Dai APT

Huk-Sek Dong, Dong-Jak Gu

156-070

Seoul, KOREA

(02) 823-6064

e,j-TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF

ILLUSTRATIONS

i

Chapter

INTRODUCTION

1

NATURE

AS

A SUBJECT OF ART

2

DREAM TREE

1.

Motivation

3

2.

Process

3

DISCUSSION

OF THE WORKS

1

.

Love Bench

5

2.

Portrait

of

My

Family

6

INFLUENCE..

8

ILLUSTRATIONS

10

LIST OF ILLUSTRATION

Fig

-

1

:

DREAM

TREE

Love Bench

Copper,

Brass

3'6"

X

6'2"

X

3'5"

10

Fig

-2:

DREAM TREE

Love

Bench

Back View

1 1

Fig

-3:

DREAM TREE

Portrait

of

My Family

12

Fig

-4:

Jang

-Sung

13

Fig

-

5:

DREAM TREE

Portrait

of

My Family

-

Man

Copper,

Brass

2'1"

X

2'8"

X

87"

14

Fig

-6:

DREAM TREE

Portrait

of

My Family

-

Man

Right

Side

View

15

Fig

-7:

DREAM TREE

Portrait

of

My Family

-

Woman

Copper,

Brass

2'5"

X

2'

X

7'8"

16

Fig

-8:

DREAM TREE

Portrait

of

My Family

-Woman

Back View

17

Fig

-9:

DREAM TREE

Portrait

of

My Family

-Baby

Copper,

Brass

5'4"

X

2'

X

2'1"

18

Fig

-

10:

DREAM TREE

Portrait

_of

My

Family-Baby

Detail

of

Face

19

Fig

-

1 1

:

DREAM TREE

Candle Stand

Gold, Silver,

Wax

1'3"

X

9"

X

11"

20

Fig

-

12:

DREAM TREE

Table

Copper,

Brass,

Glass

4'1" X2'5" X3'2"

21

Fig

-

13:

DREAM

TREE

Side

Table

Copper, Brass, Bronze,

Glass

2'1"X

1'10"X3'5"

22

Fig

-

14:

DREAM

TREE

Dressing

Table

Copper, Brass, Bronze, Silver,

Mirror

4'6" X2'1" X6'3"

23

Fig

-

15:

DREAM TREE

Mood

Lamp

S.

Silver,

Glass

1'5"

X

9"

X

2'

24

Fig-

16:

Portal

Gate

Steel,

Brass,

Copper

7'6"

X

6'

X

4"

25

Fig-

17: Portal

Gate

[image:5.565.65.497.103.657.2]

INTRODUCTION

Nature has

always served as

the

framework for

our

lives.

Because

of

its

mystery,

beauty,

and

sublimity

nature

becomes

a subject of

formative

and creative

activity

for

artists.

Hence,

I

am

fascinated

with nature.

The

purpose of

this thesis

is

to

sublimate

the

primitive

images

of nature.

These

images

are

based

on

my

observation of nature's aesthetic value.

I have developed

an

intimate relationship

with

nature,

particularly

with

the tree.

I

have

explored a

variety

of

tree

shapes as well as expressed

their

inherent liveliness.

The

outdoor sculptural

pieces which make

up

the

series

"Dream

Tree" are evidence of

the

connection

between

NATURE AS

A

SUBJECT OF

ART

Most

of us seek

beauty,

for

it brings

us

joy

and

happiness.

During

our search

for

beauty

we can

look

to

nature

for

inspiration.

The

natural environment

harbors

thousands

of

beautiful images.

Because

people exist

in

nature, there

is

a close

relationship between

man and

nature.

People have

gotten

ideas

and understood principles of "Art"

from

nature.

They

have

also expressed adoration and

inspiration

from it.

In

nature, there

is

a

fundamental

principle of

the

order which maintains

its

existence and

harmonizes

the

natural phenomenon.

Artists discover

the

harmonious

order of nature and express

its

substance

by

connecting

with

internalized

artistic concepts.

The

natural

image,

which

translates

to the artist,

becomes

a new order.

Art

work

is

expressed with

artists'

subjectivity

through their

aesthetic senses.

Therefore,

nature

does

not reappear as a realistic

description.

In

other

words,

artists

express nature

freshly

and

diversely.

They

combine

imagination

and emotion

by

DREAM TREE

1

.

Motivation

Since

people

have

an

intimate relationship

with

nature,

many

artists use nature

as

the

subject matter of

their

works.

In

the

same

way,

I have developed

an

intimate

relationship

with

nature,

especially

the tree.

I

want

to

express

the

variety

of shapes and

inherent liveliness

of

trees

throughout the

series

"Dream

Tree."

Just like

most people

have different

personalities and characteristics

based

on

their

backgrounds

and

their

surroundings, trees

are unique

in

their

own ways.

The

winter

trees

and

trunks

which

I

represent

in

the

"Dream

Tree"

series are

expecting

new

leaves

and

hope.

Winter

trees,

although

leafless,

are

waiting for

the

sprouting

leaves in

spring.

This

gives people

the

hope

of

overcoming

difficulties.

"Dream

Tree"

is

made

to

represent people's

hope.

I

want

my

works

to

be

understood

by

people as a

relationship between

their

lives

2.

Process

"Dream

Tree"

was made

in

three

steps.

In

these pieces, the

details

and

decorations

are

less important.

These

pieces were

designed

to

portray

a sense of mass

and substance.

The

process of

making

"Dream

Tree"

required much

time

and attention.

1

)

A

sketch

I

sketched

many

kinds

of

tree

shapes and

tried to

combine

them

with

the

object

I

wanted

to

make.

After I

arrived at

the

design,

I

made an actual size

drawing.

2)

Make

a model

I

made a model with

blue

foam in 1/3

scale.

3)

Make

the

piece.

First,

the

copper sheet was cut

into

sections.

These

sections are

later

hammered

and

formed

to

achieve volume and

definition.

Next,

all of

the

parts are welded.

Finally,

the

completed

form is

finished

with

coloring

and patination.

I

overcame

the

metal's

inherent

color and

firm

feeling by

skillfully

hammering

and

DISCUSSION OF THE

WORKS

1

.

Love Bench.

When

I

appreciate

sculpture,

I

feel

the

urge

to touch

and

to

ask

the

question:

"Why

should

I

only

see it?"

I

think

art should always

be

interactive

and

in

rhythm with

the

public.

For

example,

sculptures could

be

used as gates.

Some

parts of a

large

sculptures could provide children with a slide or a swing.

"Love

Bench"

(Fig

-

1

&

2)

is

created with

the thought

of

"Feel

free

to

sit"

in

mind

rather

than

"Do

not touch."

This

piece

is

a

large functional

sculpture which

takes the

form

of a

fallen

tree.

"Love

Bench"

is

meant

to

be

sat

in

as one would sit

in

the

welcoming

trunks

of an old

tree.

It

consists of

two

intertwined

tree trunks.

The large

trunks

are composed of

many

small sections which represent

different lives

coming

together

to

form

a whole.

The

front

trunk

has

a space

for

sitting

and

the

rear

trunk

is

made

for

a comfortable

lean.

"Love

Bench"

is

a

large functional

sculpture.

The

piece can

be

categorized as a

sculpture which uses concepts of space and shape

that

can

be

appreciated

from

every

point of view.

Hopefully,

each point of view will

convey

a

slightly

different

feeling

to the

viewer;

the

large

trunks

and

the

small

branches

express a sense of movement and

space.

"Love

Bench"

is

good evidence of an enjoyable sculpture.

I

want

"Love

Bench"

2.

Portrait

of

My Family

The

series

"Portrait

of

My

Family"

(Fig

-3)

consists of

large

sculptures which

were

influenced

by

the

shape and

meaning

of

"Jang

-Sung."

"Jang

-Sung"

(Fig

-4)

is

one of

the

symbols of Koreans' old popular religion.

The

duty

of

"Jang

-Sung"

is

protecting

the

village and

the

people

from

disease,

disaster

and evil.

People

prayed

to

"Jang

-Sung"

for

their

desires

and

society

peace

because

people

believed

"Jang

-Sung"

to

posses

the

soul of a god.

In

the

old agricultural

society,

people

believed

that water, stones,

and woods are

the

subjects of

worship because

they

thought

these

are

the

symbols of eternal

life.

Unlike

water's undesired

mobility,

stones are

thought to

be immutable

and

trees

rejuvenating.

Since

stones and

trees

rest

in

one place people

believe

that the

gods

relax

in

them.

These

are

the

reasons

why

"Jang

-Sung"

was made with stone and

wood.

Another

characteristic of

"Jang

is

that

it

usually

has

a serious and a

benevolence

figure

which can

be

changed

by

the

feeling

of

the

viewers.

Because

"Jang

-Sung"

has

a special

meaning,

it

inspired

me

to

make

"Portrait

of

1)

Portrait

of

My

Family

-Man

(Fig

-5

&

6)

I

meant

to

express powerful

feelings

through the

male

figure.

According

to the

Korean traditional

thinking,

males

have

the

power

in

the

family.

Man

has many

duties

and responsibilities

in

order

to

protect

the

family.

For

these reasons,

I

gave

the

male

figure

a

dignified

expression

full

of self-confidence

to

represent a man's powers.

2)

Portrait

of

My Family

-Woman

(Fig

-7

&

8)

On

the

other

hand,

the

female figure

shows

the

Korean

traditional

femininity.

The

wife should

follow

the

lead

set

by

her husband.

I

expressed

the

feelings

of

geniality

and

sentimentality

of a woman rather

than the

powerful

feelings

of a man.

That is why

the

female's

gestures are

shy

and elegant.

3)

Portrait

of

My Family

-Baby

(Fig

-9 &

10)

My

son

inspired

me

to

create

this

piece.

The

characteristics of

babies

are

innocence

and purity.

I

find

a peaceful message on babies'

faces.

My

son always played on

his

mother's affections with

whimpering

and crying.

While he

was

nestling in his

mother's

bosom,

he looked happy.

This

made me

feel

good and

inspired

me

to

create

this

piece.

I

focused

on

the

arms and

whimpering face

INFLUENCE

I have

made

interior

pieces

that

have

been both decorative

and

functional.

These

pieces

include items

such as candle stands

(Fig

-11),

tables

(Fig

-12

&

13),

dressing

tables

(Fig

-14),

and mood

lamps

(Fig

-

15).

However,

"Love

Bench" and

"Portrait

of

My

Family",

which are

the

most recent pieces

from

the

series

"Dream

Tree",

can

be

categorized as sculptures.

These

pieces

employ

concepts of space and

shape

that

can

be

appreciated

from every

point of view.

In

this

respect

my

pieces relate

to

Albert Paley's

and

Leonard Urso's

works.

When I

saw

Albert

Paley's

works

for

the

first

time

I

was shocked.

As

a

metalsmith,

Albert

Paley

makes

large

sculptures

beyond

my

concept of metalsmithing.

His

works

'Gate'

(Fig

-16

&

17)

especially influenced

me.

More

than

anything

else, the

most

noticeable aspect of

Albert

Paley

was

the transformation

of

his

works.

At

first,

he

made

mostly jewelry.

His

change

in

emphasis

from jeweler

to

sculptor

transformed

my

works.

I

used

to think that

metalsmiths should make

indoor

pieces and

that their

works should

be

well

finished.

However,

now

I

think that

metalsmiths can make sculptural

forms

for

outdoors.

"Dream

Tree"

has

similar characteristics

to that

of sculptures of

Urso,

who

teaches

metalsmithing

and

jewelry

at

the

Rochester

Institute

of

Technology.

His

work

"Angel"

(Fig

-18)

is

a woman's

figure

which

is

made

by

hammering.

In

this piece,

back

side allows people

to

appreciate

the

negative space of

the

figure.

"Dream

Tree"

also

has

some negative space which show

its inside.

Leonard

Urso

changed

my

concept of metalsmithing.

Before

I

came

to

R.I.T.,

I

thought that

making

good

design

was more

important

than

conveying

an artists'

concept.

However,

now

I

realize

that

having

a concept

is

very

important.

This is

how

Leonard

Urso influenced

the

"Dream

Tree"

series.

Albert

Paley's

and

Leonard

Urso's

works and

their

concepts of

metalsmithing

exerted great

influence

upon

"Dream

Tree."

Albert

Paley

gave me a chance

to

DREAM TREE

Love Bench

Copper,

Brass

3'6"

X

6'2"

X

3'5'

(Fig-1)

DREAM TREE

Love Bench

-

Back

View

Copper,

Brass

3'6"

X

6'2"

X

3'5"

(Fig

-2)

DREAM

TREE

Portrait

of

My

Family

(Fig

-3)

Jang

-Sung

ft

(Fig

-4)

DREAM TREE

Portrait

of

My Family

-Man

Front

View

(Fig

-5)

Copper,

Brass

2'1"

X

2'8"

X

87"

DREAM TREE

Portrait

of

My Family

-Man

Right

Side

View

(Fig

-6)

Copper,

Brass2'1"X2,8"X87"

DREAM TREE

Portrait

of

MY

Family

-

Woman

Front View

(Fig

-7)

Copper,

Brass

2'5"

X

2'

X

78"

DREAM TREE

Portrait

of

My

Family

-

Woman

Back View

-"3*w

JPw

m

1 V

M "'

.nfl

K'

'w

fjM

Tfc C'

^& a|

S^

^v^^B- ^^^^

(Fig

-8)

Copper,

Brass

2'5"

X

2'

X 78

DREAM TREE

Portrait

of

My Family

-Baby

(Fig

-9)

Copper,

Brass

5'4"X2'X2'1"

DREAM TREE

Portrait

of

My Family

-Baby

Detail

of

Face

(Fig

-10)

DREAM

TREE

Candle

Stand

Gold,

Silver,

Wax

1'3"X9"X 11"

(Fig-11)

DREAM TREE

Table

(Fig

-12)

Copper, Brass,

Glass

4'1"X2'5"X3'2"

[image:26.565.14.559.159.538.2]

DREAM

TREE

Side Table

(Fig

-13)

Copper,

Brass, Bronze,

Glass

2'1"

X

1'10"

X

3'5"

DREAM TREE

Dressing

Table

(Fig

-14)

Copper, Brass, Bronze, Silver,

Mirror

4'6"

X 2'1

"

X

6'3"

DREAM TREE

Mode

Lamp

(Fig

-15)

S.

Silver,

Glass

1'5"X9"X2'

Portal Gate

(Fig

-16)

Steel,

Brass,

Copper

7'6"

X

6'

Portal

Gate

(Fig

-17)

Steel, Brass,

Bronze

1

3'6"

X

9'

X

6"

Angel

(Fig

-18)

Copper

CONCLUSION

While

I

studied at

R.I.T.,

my

concepts and works

have been expending in

many

ways.

My

large

works

take the

form

of sculptures.

This does

not mean

that

I

refuse

to

be

a metalsmith.

I have

some concerns which are

inherent

to

a

metalsmith,

namely

function,

design

and

finish.

The

value of

this thesis

is

that

it has helped

me move

to

my

next

step

and

to

a

new start.