The antithesis of my upcycle project “Bolts”, which is a raw, industrial aesthetic of scrap metal art, would embody a sleek, pristine, and modern design. This would be more minimalist, with clean lines, smooth surfaces, and a simple color scheme. This alternative aesthetic would smooth out the rugged, weathered textures in favor of polished finishes and synthetic materials.
This new aesthetic would be a sculpture that looks like it has been either cast from a single mold or uses minimal joining techniques. This piece would have a smooth surface and solid uniform colors. The gritty texture of scrap metal is replaced by the cool touch of molded plastic or polished aluminum. The silhouette would remain recognizable, but its essence would be transformed entirely.
Some more examples of minimalist sculptures are below:
To enact this vision with the materials already planned for “Bolts” a radical transformation would be required. Each piece of scrap metal would have to be cleaned, ground down to remove any imperfections, and then coated, polished or powder-coated. This would not only change the appearance but also the tactile experience of the artifact. The rough and tactile feel of scrap would give way to a uniform and smooth surface. The functionality would probably stay the same: a decorative piece.
As we consider the opposite aesthetic, it’s clear that the beauty of upcycling lies not just in the end product, but in the process and intention behind it. Whether it’s the textured narrative of scrap metal art or the clean narrative of minimalism, each piece carries with it a message. The opposite aesthetic would stand as a beacon of modernity, a contrast to the storied patina of “Bolts” yet both would serve as a reminder of the endless possibilities that lie in the materials we so often overlook.
Abigail Angwin
Adlai White
Alexis Cisneros
Alex Fitzgerald
Alex Gebben
Alex Reynolds
Aj Terio
Andres Serrano
Aryan
Ari Matrajt Frid
Arjun Mody
Barrett Lister
Ben Clairday
Benjamin Hyde
Blake Wilson
Lavender Giebner
Brandon Phillips
Cannon Leitz
Chris Wachuta
Colton Huff
Collin Kendall
Cole Metcalf
Collin Ruprecht
David Li
Duncan Laird
Dylan Breglio
Efrosini Krokos
Emilee Novak
Ethan Polacsek
Ethan Sanchez
Ethan Silverman
Fin McKemey
Garrett Miller
Grreshan Ramesh
Hailey Usher
Helen Do
Ian Farrar
Ian O'neill
Jason Allshouse
Jace Aschbrenner
Jarod Ocampo
Jadin Zaccagnino
Jess Corbitt
Josh Beijer
John Bileschi
Jon Ezell
Jonathon Gruener
Josh Gregory
Josh Sweeney
Juliette Goubeaud
Katie Schutt
Kevin Kim
Kelso Norden
Kyra Anderson
Kyle Hashiro
Kyle Pohle
Luke Nicol
Luke Prins
Max Lantz
Maddox Mitchell
Matthew Osborn
Max Palish
Michael Becerra
Michael Gray
Nicholas Gotlib
Nick Olguin
Noah Howell
Oliver White
Peter Arnold
Riley Menke
Sam Biehle
Sammie Duran
Sam Gluskoter
Sarah Pepper
Sean Riddle
Sierra Greeley
Sophie Berry
Sophia Montie
Tim Hellweg
Tiana Vitry
Trent Bjorkman
Travis Mulford
Venkata Sanyasi Krishna Vidhan Rallapalli
Vincent Tang
Yuting Wang
Aryan Gandhi
Jean Hertzberg
Shrey Naresh Solanki
4 Comments. Leave new
Hey Ethan,
Your recent blog post on contrasting aesthetics in your upcycling project caught my attention. The juxtaposition between the raw, industrial vibe of “Bolts” and the sleek, modern design you’re considering is fascinating.
I’m intrigued by your vision of transforming rugged textures into polished finishes and synthetic materials, creating a minimalist sculpture with clean lines and uniform colors. It’s a bold shift that requires meticulous attention to detail, from cleaning and refining each scrap metal piece to achieving the desired aesthetic through coatings or polishing.
What strikes me most is how you’re not just changing the appearance but also the tactile experience of the artifact. It’s a testament to the transformative power of upcycling and the creative process behind it.
Your exploration of opposite aesthetics highlights the beauty of upcycling as both an art form and a statement. Whether it’s the textured narrative of scrap metal art or the modern simplicity of minimalism, each piece tells a unique story. I’m excited to see how you’ll bring this vision to life and continue to push the boundaries of creativity in upcycling.
Looking forward to your next update!
Best,
Jon
Hey Ethan,
The new idea for the aesthetic is very interesting! How would you even begin to make something like that? It seems very difficult to do as it would need some unique molds since it is a single solid piece.
This is a fun comparison to look at! It was also fun to read your theory of how the sculptures were possibly prepped and assembled together. It also reminds me a lot of polygon aesthetic in videogames, giving the intentional unfinished look but still pleasing to look at. Would you say that this was inspired by game development or vice a versa?
This is a really nice comparison of your style against one that contrasts it pretty well. The first sketch of a dog reminds me of Picasso’s famous painting of a dachshund, which is even a step further than minimalism to give you just enough information to say “Oh, that’s a dog”. Both your Bolts and a minimalist statue would be made by human hands. Do you feel like minimalism goes too far in trying to hide the fact that it’s handmade?