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Instruction

Create a model or representation of your masking form. Does not have to be final.

 

Purpose

Begin understanding the geometry of your project and how it melds to your body. Explore shape, material, and functionality as much as possible. Work towards a a final product.

 

My Interpretation

Using Bristol and tape, I created the form of the fiddlers crab top claw, shaping it to my right forearm. I created this form as a sort of guide to create a flat net because I plan to use chipboard, glue (with tabs), and paint as the final materials. Unfortunately, due to time restraints, I have decided to ditch the mechanical aspect of previous iterations of the project so I am able to turn in the project on time.

Instruction

Create 10 or more iterations on a design for your masking form.

 

Purpose

Start thinking of how the form will interact with them performer, the scene partner, and the space. Explore different ideas to see what fits, what is possible, and what matches the tone for the performance the best.

 

My Interpretation

As me and my partner previously agreed, I will be modeling my right arm based off of the metaphorical side of the Cancer sign, the crab. I started by looking into different crab forms that fit half of the Cancer sign, a bulbous rounded end with a sweeping long tail. The first four forms (basic, Mr. Krabs, stone, and fantasy spiked) were trying to hone into that shape as a whole, the entire pincer being a mimic of the sign. In the next three iterations, I looked for other pincer shapes in nature (ants, beetles, and lobsters), and although that didn’t go anywhere in particular, the idea to devolve the form into the human shape and create a slow transition started there. Finally, I tries a different kind of crab, the fiddler crab. These crabs have once giant pincer that has a perfect curve that mimics the tail of the Cancer sign. With that in mind, I began iterating within this specific design, first making it geometric to allow for more connection to the constellation look of the stars, then changing the colors and pattern. I decided to end with the geometric and color shifted redesign, the dots (imitating stars) creating the circle that was lost in the shape of the pincer.

The Narrative

We plan to focus on the origin of the Zodiac, specifically the sign of Cancer. We aim to recreate its beginnings as well as major aspects of it’s creation and transformation throughout history. The main aspects of what a Cancer is, how they act, and their strengths and weaknesses will also be highlighted. This performance will resemble Ancient Greek performance, done in an ampitheatrical style, an audience sitting in and listening to masked performers taking on and acting as things they are not, recreating stories that have been passed down for centuries.

 

Who

The masking used will be for two performers, putting on a show for an audience who is sitting in to learn about the Zodiac, specifically the creation, history, and origin of the Cancer sign. Only the performers will be interacting directly with the masking, at most, an audience will only be able to see or touch the exterior of the project, not use it.

 

What

The part of the body I plan to mask is the hand or possibly both hands. I aim to mimic the shape of a geometric crab pincer that completely goes over the hand. Not only will it resemble a crab’s true anatomy, but it will also be functional with working mechanics and a snug fit within the piece. It will integrate human interaction with a non-human exterior, possibly having the four main fingers bound to the top pincer and the thumb responsible for the bottom one.

 

When

This augmentation is only to be used in performance, story telling, and historical recounting of the Cancer zodiac sign. Any other recreational use is not tied to the narrative of the Zodiac, though it may happen anyways. 🙂

 

Where

The masking is to only be encountered from one of two states: as a performer using it directly, or as an audience member observing it from a designated distance. The performer places in over the hand and uses it in random with the scene partner, and the audience simply observes unless directly interacted with.

 

How

The augmentation is slipped onto the hand or hands of the performer, previously being fitted properly so the inside mechanics fit only to the right person. The bending, snapping, and clenching of the pincer(s) will be a result of the clenching of an extended hand to a fist within the form itself. The mechanics, in theory, will be completely concealed.