What is it?
Fiberglass or fibreglass is a common type of fiber-reinforced plastic using glass fiber. The fibers may be randomly arranged, flattened into a sheet called a chopped strand mat, or woven into glass cloth. It is commonly used in housing and building insulation. However, when it is coated in a polyester resin, it is most commonly used in Theatre, for making sets and props. Due to its lightweight material, flexibility, and ability to cast to any form its layered upon, drying hard.
ALLEN JONES
Allen Jones is a Feminist artist who specialises in paintings and sculptures, he has made art a various different ways using a variety of materials, one way to take note of is his use of Fibre Glass. His work has gained a lot of controversy due to its miscommunication, people thought it was work of a misogynist who objectified women, when it was actually the opposite.
Once piece using this medium is called “chair”, which was part of a collection of work (alongside handstand and table). The main theme between them is to show women in Errotic/fetish clothing, in positions that resemble Furniture. They had been produced at the time the women’s Liberation Movement became prominent, so for many it was confusing what he was trying to suggest. Should women stay the objects that society (men) see them as? Or is this work suggesting the opposite? Are women seen as the slaves of society, which he is trying to bring light to?
Fiber Glass in my work
All sculptures seen above, have been made out of fibreglass in one way or another. “The Aggressor” for example was created by layering fibreglass with polyester resin on top of a foam shape I had previously made. It is a frustrating material to work with, because it often doesn’t go where you want it too, and due to its sticky material, it can get bits stuck to it. With this in mind, I still wouldn’t change my choice in material, I think that its randomised character can give exciting results, and as you can see in “example 1” it also gives a unique texture.
Another advantage with working with this material is that it allows light to travel through it, like seen in “balloon 1”. it gives opportunities to cast around objects while also containing something within it, which could be interesting for future projects.