Egg: Human Shell
Contained, secure, waiting...
The vulnerability of the being inside human skin.

Three very different construction methods were used to make Human Shell.

Outer shell

A giant polystyrene cutter was used to slice pieces off a poly block until a 1/2 egg shape emerged. A smaller hand-held poly cutter was used to carve out slices of polysterene from the internal shape. The surface was smoothed with handmade tools (wooden paddles with screws as bristles), wire and suede brushes. Sandpaper gradually refined the surface to smooth and egg-like. A heat gun and layer of shellak made doubly sure of the seal.

Layers of white jesmonite, and quadaxial mesh were built up over the polystyrene egg, then scraped back to get a smooth gently curving interior and exterior. I liked the quality of smoothing and grinding the surface with an angle-grinder, and the resultant texture reminiscent of an Egyptian sarcophagus.

The figure
The dialogue between the shell and the figure contained inside was important. I wanted the figure to be snugly contained, like a precious object held within a jewellry box, or broad beans within a furry seed pod.
Professional models were body cast in sections from life using seaweed alginate and plaster.

The base
The orientation of the shell on the base has been tested has been considered:

1. On it's side, landscape format, like a TV
2. Facing up, like a bath or font
3. Upright, positioned as in an egg-cup / womb

The metal stand is constructed in mild steel plate and scaffolding.

The vulnerable, foetal human form encased in a protective shell or pod, is an on-going theme.