Slabbs
Introduction
Using a freehand extruding, squeezing process, the silicone is 'drawn' with to build a condensed form to create a greater surface area of contact and compression as the silicone oozes forth and settles on a flat surface. This outcome is exaggerated by the use of purpose built 'formers' to its sides, which are compressed in as a second stage to provide adjacent flat surfaces and add an additional squeeze of the silicone mass into the final form.
Slabb: Grey
Conservation grade silicone (cured unattached) low iron toughened glass, cast stone and hardwood bases, May 2022
15 x 5 x 13cm (slabb)
27 x 35 x 32cm (overall)
A dark grey matt silicone forming a smaller squatter mass with a medium nozzle.
The combination of density, and nozzle size, distance from surface during the process are all factors that impact on the behaviour of the extruding silicone that have to be worked with in the moment.
Here, a single piece of glass is supported vertically by two display bases. The silicone Slabb sits just a little back from the face of the glass as an echo of the surface contact that formed the form.
Selected for The Royal West of England Academy 169th Annual Open (runs 8 Oct 22 - 8 Jan 23) where it was:
Awarded the Pangolin Digital Ltd Sculpture Prize.
The prize is for a digital 3D laser scan that will allow for the work's future reproduction in a variety of materials including bronze, from 1:1 scale to 10ft high.
Slabb: Chinchilla
Conservation grade silicone, cured unattached, Jan 2022
13 x 7 x 21cm (Slabb)
The first slabb done to develop an idea and studio test piece back in 2020. A glossy muted blue extruded with a large nozzle.
The silicone in this 'formed form', because of the density, can take 4-6 weeks to cure before removal.
Slabb: White
Conservation grade silicone (cured unattached) low iron toughened glass, mdf, varnish, Mar 2022
26 x 29 x 29cm overall
Following on from Slabb: Chinchilla, a matt white silicone extruded with a smaller nozzle to fill roughly the same area of 'slabb' with silicone in a greater initial density.
Again, side formers further squeeze the silicone into the final form, revealed only after curing for approx 4 weeks.
To present this work, a base with slots for pieces of glass to slide into has since been made, allowing for a changing juxtaposition of elements of the work and an interplay with the perceived process past and physical present.
