chalcedony
CREATING A character, Designing a headpiece, and adapting a zero-waste shirt for a site-specific performance inspired by the poem ‘Chalcedony’ from Pablo Neruda’s collection Stones from the Sky.
POEM ANALYSIS AND INITIAL RESEARCH
Whilst researching the poet and the context of the collection, I discovered that the poet was extremely ill when writing these poems, and he used the crystal poems to reflect on his human mortality. I decided I would explore how they symbolise a higher power. Immune to the human concept of time, their beauty, structure and creation are almost supernatural, and their omnipresence and permanence comparable to a god.
RESEARCH
At the Natural History Museum, I focused on examples of my crystals that felt ethereal to me. I chose this particular crystal because I could immediately see where the face would fit if it were a headpiece. The way the light hit it felt almost holy, and this was something I could replicate in my final performance images. I started to think about how I could create in 3D. The shape reminded me of wings, which is something I explored as I started to think about who my character would be.
At my first potential performance space, I took descriptive notes, such as “the sky is bright, glowing through the trees”, also noting that whatever lived here would need “some sort of protection; layers.” I used this space as inspiration for my character and design, as I found the tree roots and bark texture to resemble the crystal. In response, I created some swatches, experimenting with PVA, binder, flour and water to create a crackling texture.
My second potential performance space was Southwark Cathedral. I chose this space in response to the religious imagery and themes of eternal life/ resurrection in my poem. I shifted my research into angels after recognising a wing shape in my crystal.
I was starting to see a pattern in the shapes appearing in my project – the long, organic shapes like the ‘roots’ from the trees and the crystal, wing-like shapes and bursts of light all expelling from the head.
Incorporating a Zero Waste Shirt and Samples. Then, I started to think bout how my zero-waste shirt would fit into my costume. I researched religious gowns: an early form of zero/low waste garment pattern cutting.
Character board
I wanted to tell a story of a spiritual omen who visits people waiting on their imminent death and guides them to eternal life. As well as via the research I carried out on the poet, I crafted this narrative through the religious symbolism in my poem such as ‘chastity of heaven’ – I interpreted this as my character being a guard of the afterlife, this is her ‘role in the serene ring’ – this line exemplifies her spiritual role in the cycle of human life and death.
concept board
I used a microscopic scan of my crystal and collaged images of angels from research books to visualise where she comes down from, then collaged her shifting into our world and my chosen space. I wanted my character to appear overwhelming and intimidating to the audience, as she would frighten the dying person she would visit, but she is also a carer, a comforter and a wise guide.
design development
I started off by placing shapes from my project onto the body and then explored how it would translate in 3D using my actor.
initial designs
final design
prototyping
I created my pattern pieces in A1 to scale, and laser cut them out in card. I draped them on a stand and made alterations to the shape and position – ready to make my final headpiece.
Head Shots with Final Headpiece
Final Performance photographs
“RITUAL”
“It’s cloudy, but the sky is bright, glowing through the trees.”
“I feel stiff. Everything is slightly harder to do: move, think, walk.”
