Material Exploration

1. Latex                                                         2. Rubber hose filled with perspex disc

MDF

Perspex
During this project, I have tested several materials to insert into the neoprene including wood, Perspex, latex, PVC, silicone and rubber tubing.

I am glad I tested latex as a material, however it isn’t as clean or visually exciting, as the edges are not as crisp as the laser cut materials. This is because I used a mould to pour the latex into, and using this method didn’t allow me to create tight corners.

The wood has potential creating a different aesthetic. The contrast between the natural wood and man made neoprene is interesting and would work for interiors. Chatting to Paul Tutty, he suggested the wood has a more masculine look and would work as lighting. The opaque material blocks the light, creating shadows in the space, whilst the unfilled incisions lets light through. The wood will also allow for exploration in colour and finish as varnishes, dyes and paints can easily be applied.

The Perspex is visually and structurally most successful, being clear the piece interacts with the light. The small scale inserts sparkle in the light, lending the surface to work as jewellery or body adornment. I plan to explore this further.