why

Ron Arad

Concrete Stereo (1983)

record player, amplifier, two speakers, electronic components: incorporated into concrete

Su-Mei Tse

Stille Disco (2010)

installation of stone sculptures

Onkar Kular

Betacam Tape: The MacGuffin Library (2008)

black polymer resin

The broader my research is becoming, the more I want to cast in different materials. There are other avenues I could explore from my current position: the destruction/deformation of the original object; glazes and firing; the durability of the porcelain; digital production methods (CAD/CAM/CNC routers/laser and water-jet cutters???) etc: however it is the actual casting material that I want to plumb.

Resin seems like a natural choice as it'll result in a transparent solid that would provide considerable contrast to the ceramic objects. I'm really concerned though about the release agent as each each substance that I've researched (silicone/soap/beeswax/Vaseline oil/petroleum jelly/PVA/spray paint) seems to match success story for failure. It's important that the mold doesn't end up as a waste mold and is reusable, however as with any kind of casting it is essentially a game of chance.