Skin(s) + Bones

The human body’s largest organ is the sack of dead and living cells that acts as our environmental envelop, protecting against the elements, against injury, against infection and (importantly) against every other organ escaping from the field we call ‘The Body’.

Peter Wood, “Sticks and stones: Skins and Bones”. AD vol 73, no. 2, 2003. Pg66


Precedent project:
Find one architectural project that in your reading of it operates to engage with ideas of either skins or bones, or both. Thoroughly research this project and present your research material in a 4 minute seminar for your group. All research sources should be appropriately referenced. Seminars will take place on Friday 24 April from 9:00am. make sure you have printed visual material large enough for your group to see.

Skin(s) + Bones: Research through making:
Make an investigation of either skins or bones. Widely research your chosen topic (skins or bones) to understand the way it operates; consider the physiology (its structure, how it grows, its material properties etc) and its cultural associations/applications/manipulations/meanings

Using any processes explore your chosen topic and MAKE some skins or bones.
Some processes you might use include:
digital modeling, moving image, drawing, instrumental/freehand, collage/montage, modeling, using a variety of processes and materials eg. casting, carving, laminating, piercing, binding . . .

Use the computer labs, the libraries (university wide), the workshops. Keep in mind the wide variety of materials that you investigated in the haptic material brief. If you don’t know where to start you might choose something (any object) and make skins or bones for it. This is the beginning of a project that will unfold over the next six weeks so make this work interesting . . . it has to sustain you!

Skin(s) + Bones Reading:
read two of these texts, these will be discussed in relation to your work

Hodge, B. (2006) Skin + bone : parallel practices in fashion and architecture. Los Angeles, New York & London, Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art and Thames & Hudson. (SL)
Call Number: 72.036.6 H688

Lupton, E. (2002) Skin: surface, substance, and design. New York, Princeton Architectural Press; Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution. (SL)

Wood, Peter. Sticks and Stones: Skins and Bones. AD, vol 73, no 2 2003. Pg 65-68 (ECM)

Schedule:
Skins and Bones introduction:
Tuesday 21 April (+ self reflection introduction)
Self-reflection 1:1 tutorials: Thursday 23 April, from 9:00am
(refer each group’s timetable)

Precedent project 4 min seminars:
Friday 24 April from 9:00am (refer each group’s timetable)

Lecture:
the antique and classical body in architecture (Michael Milojevic):
Tuesday 28 April, 10:30

Skins and Bones Pin up: Friday May 1, 9:00am, venue, level 3 exhibition space