A Metaphorical Exploration of Forms in Sculpture Using ‘Readymade Food Vessels’

Abstract

The study explores metaphorical exploration of form in sculpture using recycled ‘readymade food vessels’ found in the environment in order to revisit the essence of sight and idea in sculpture. It interrogates how verbal metaphor used in Nigeria to discuss living condition can transform from sense speech to visual metaphorical forms in the three dimensional in order to provoke thought in the viewer. In the art studio the artist/researcher explores generative metaphorical sculptures from the verbal metaphors that are linked to living condition in Nigeria. The methodology adopted for the study is art based research, and intuitive an aspect of qualitative research paradigm. Data was collected from primary and secondary sources through observation, generative metaphor, and reflexive in action, photograph, internet and exploration of experimental objects. For this study the artist/researcher used materials such as; plastic containers, cup, plates, buckets and bowl which to explore the metaphors. The artist/researcher through exploration, hope to know if metaphorical sculptures created from verbal metaphors can embody idea and sight as non-discursive form or visual thinking. In the studio the artist/researcher explores eighteen metaphorical sculptures with one site specific sculpture installation. For this paper only four of the works are discussed among the series of body of works explored. This study after identifying the verbal metaphors that were explored to create sculptures concludes that verbal metaphors can rematerialize in the three dimensional to give insight to living condition in Nigeria.

Keywords: Metaphor, living condition, readymade food vessels, installation.