Responding to Michael Landy & Tony Cragg

Landy's primary inspiration arises from the objects around him, creating the very art which he exhibits formed through the inspired, found objects. This is exemplified by his "art bin," interactive piece where he asked other artist's to contribute to his centrepiece of "creative failure."  

Cragg complements this ideology of taking found material through his own application of found materials; that which occurs naturally in form of metal ore and that of human construction such as plastics, never the less both artists create thought provoking art representing the world in which they live. 

Michael Landy- Art bin 29th Jan- 14 Mar 2010

Taking aspects from both artist's culminated in my sculptural 'failure;' that is to say that my primary vision was never realised. I set out to create a solid concrete form of a Smirnoff Vodka bottle, encapsulating money within its construction, questioning the financial implications of alcoholism on the economy as well as the individual consumer. However, receiving my brief two days before I cast, I had to adapt my material to that which I already had. Therefore, the mix created "gobbo" and not true concrete. Never the less, the form was created and the following photographs show its development. 

Using a mix of three gravel to one cement, with five pence pieces added created the needed mixture, while adding plenty of water brought the consistency to the desired runnier level.   

These two show the form before the glass started to be smashed; a consequence unpredicted is the layer of concrete present on the bottle forming an interesting photographical form.  

The bottles top presented the greatest challenge and one which I unable to successfully overcome. However, interest has still been created even though the structure fractured...

The layer of glass below the broken neck was the first place to be broken, as this photograph shows the contrast in form. 

The next three images represent the unfinished idea; that it is, that is that it shows the complete structure set in the concrete form. Unfortunately, the only clearly visible five pence's were at the very bottom, and taking this negatively I have alternatively used the sculpture as a photographical construct, enabling the original concept of alcoholism and the consumption of money, to be emphasised through the black and whit stills utilising the previous notion set by Michael Land'y art bin.