This image shows the wax towers all in place on the base. The base has still to be painted. However, it gives us a good indication of what the final design will look like.

We decided to spray paint some of the towers. We tested it on some left over wax first and then decided that we liked the finish enough to implement it in some of our design.

This allowed us to have more variety of buildings without having to alter the design too much.

Using a scalpel we removed a few centimetres of wax and wire mesh at the bottom of the towers.

This left behind the wooden dowel that could be then slotted into the base, thus holding the structure upright.

Close up of one of the towers.

Wax, Metal Mesh and Wooden Dowels are all visible in this image.

How the wax looked when we removed it from the MDF casts. You can see the wooden dowel and wire mesh passing through the wax tower.

The idea is to melt the wax and allow it to flow down the towers leaving behind the metal skeletal frame of the structure.

A sketch showing the mesh towers all lined up.
Here you are able to view the varying lengths and thicknesses of the towers.

Thin wire mesh was rolled up either into cylindrical or rectangular shapes. These would act as the "skeletons" of our skyscrapers/towers. These would be inside the MDF casts when we poured the wax in.

Sheets of scrap MDF were used to create casts that we then poured hot wax into. Vaseline was used to prevent the wax sticking to the casts and G-clamps held the pieces all together.

Pencil sketch showing how hot wax can be poured into water to create very interesting, freeform and organic structures.

Pencil sketch showing two people embracing.

Once heated the wax will become very malleable and can easily be shaped. Two pieces of wax can be joined together and shaped while warm to create a sculpture.

Finished piece before melting

In order to melt the wax, wicks were placed into the cast pieces by cutting small grooves into them, placing the wicks in these grooves and painting a layer of melted wax to cover them

For the base, holes were drilled and then chiseled to fit the square dowels protruding from the bottom of the cast wax 'skyscrapers' to fix them in place

The solid wax pieces are removed from the cast, and the dowel and mesh cut down to size

In order to give the wax structure, a wooden dowel wrapped in wire mesh was placed in the cast with the wax solidifying around it

Experimenting with combining several techniques in one sculpture - casting and painting wax onto wire mesh.

Wooden casts for the melted wax to be poured in

Day 2 // Colour Experimentation. We then put the ink directly into the hot wax to see if this would better colour the wax.

Day 2 // Colour Experimentation. Our first thought was to ink the water to see if any of the colour would mix in with the hot wax.

Day 2 // Experimentation. We liked the organic structures that were formed when we immersed the wax into water and this was the idea we wanted to experiment with further. We then decided to experiment by using colour.

Day 1// Understanding the Material. We looked at moulding the wax buy pouring it onto a wire mould. We also moulded the wax by pouring into water and explored how the temeperature of the water affects how the wax behaves. The photograph shows some of our experimentations.

Day 1 // Understanding the Material. Our first experiementation session we used it to test the different ways to form the wax.

Today we finished our wax 'cityscape' - ready for melting.

Making the base for the final outcome: making holes by drilling and using a chisel.

Hanging Wax
The initial idea after the first experiments was to hang the wax forms via fishing line and light them to show the translucent properties of the material

the final piece has a variety of textures

experimenting with different lights on our final product

Our final product was built up in three sections, through using water to cool the wax and create the form. The form was inspired by caves, and reflects the natural form. The space can then be explored with light and shade.

In the second week we had established our concept fully deciding to focus on the interaction with light and how wax can form an enclosure which represents natural forms.

On our second day of experimentation we decided to look at how burning candles and the wax which is melted this way reacts with other objects. It is a slower process, but gets some interesting results.

While waiting for the casting wax to set we prepared wire mesh structures to be painted on with wax later.

Casting wax_2nd trial: result. The wax "skyscrapers" came out well with sharp edges so we continued with this method for another batch.

Casting wax_2nd trial: this time we used Vaseline, applying it to the mould, so the wax wouldn't stick to the sides like last time.

Experiment One, this initial experiment was produced to see how the wax would be sculpted by cold water. Through observation it seemed that the faster the wax is poured the more extruded the shape becomes

We started to pour the wax into the water in stages, allowing the the wax to harden in between. This gave the model different levels, creating different spaces.

On day 2 we used and expanded on one of our experiments from day 1

Day 1: Experiments with lighting on the forms we made

Experimenting with burning tealights over scrap metal

{140515 // we then realize that the shapes created look like corals and somehow this may be our initial idea for the final products}

{140515 // products of day two's experimentations}

{140515 // the organic shape formed through swirling the water, we then also realize altering the temperature of the water allows us to shape the wax before it hardens}

{140515 // on the second day we explore more of the water immersion method by swirling the water- this results in a rather natural looking form}

{130515 // more abstract products from day one}

{130515 // first prototype of the project, the initial start up of testing ink on wax}

{130515 // on the first day we started of by using water immersion method to create different shapes}

{130515 // initial starting point: melting wax}

Melting wax using a hair dryer - it was very slow so we might look for other methods applying direct flames for it to melt faster.

Casting wax: wooden mould and wire mesh structure.

Today we tested casting wax and painting wax onto a wire mesh structure. The casting didn't come out as we planned as some part of the wax stuck to the mould. Next time we will give more time for the wax to dry and find methods for it not to stick to the sides of the mould.

We also decided to try a new method and started to experiment with melting the wax. We melted tea lights over a metal tube to see how the wax would flow and move naturally.

Today we experimented by pouring more wax over an existing model. This created a cave like space. We will try to explore this method more in the next session and include it in our final model.

Here is a photograph of one of the wax sculptures made from pouring the wax into the water. Using this method the wax takes a more natural form compared to the other methods.

Today we experimented with the method of pouring the wax into water. This gave different end products depending on the temperature, speed, and amount of wax poured into the water.

We looked at precedents of existing wax sculptures. More specifically at how sculptures can be hung and lit in different ways to cast shadows.

Experimental wax product resulted from immersion of hot wax into cold water using fast controlled pouring method.

DAY 2
Brainstorming session!

Form flexibility | experiment through different methods to test out the material behaviour

hand immersion in warm-wax

DAY 2
Some of the model that we've produce during the induction! Can't wait to see the final outcome for review!

wax-selfie

Following our experiments we decided we should photograph our end results with different light intensities and at different angles. In some cases the wax sculptures represented inhabitable spaces. From this we will continue to develop our concept by using wire which will hang the wax in an installation.

The result from pouring the wax into the water is different every time and depends on the amount of wax, the temperature and the materials which are used to manipulate the wax when in the water. The wax remains translucent at different levels depending on its thickness.

We began events by experimenting with the equipment and developing a concept in groups of four. Using wax and water we decided to make abstract natural forms and experiment with their interaction with light.

Day 2: introduction of how to handle wax in our very own chem workshop!

Today we started to think about the designs of our wax sculptures. We have decided to hang our different wax forms using wire.