Inflated Sculptures

[Merlion]

Is anybody familiar with making inflated or inflatable sculptures, or know where I can find information on making them ?

I understand this requires very different skills from other sculptural techniques. Apparently the skills of cutting patterns and sewing are useful.

I did a bit of simple machine sewing when I was a small boy. Now I am 65 and have some eyesight defect. But I suppose I can take on challenges. And at least big inflated sculptures are not too heavy.

Here are some examples of the works of Max Streicher, what he calls kinetic inflatables (http://pages.istar.ca/~maxs/kinetic.htm). And here is are photos (http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/paulmccarthy/) of two creations of Paul McCarthy in front of the Tate Modern. One of them 43 m (140 ft) tall was the biggest inflatable ever. I happened to see them when I visited London two years ago. There are many other examples of course.

[Merlion]

Hello to all. I need help on this matter. Any advice and suggestion, on how to make inflatable sculptures, or on where to get information.

[Merlion]

Just to report that I've gone ahead, borrowed an electric sewing machine and am practising my machine sewing skills. Successfully sewed a open ended cone to cover the front of a fan. Now I am trying to cut patterns to make a sphere. See photo below.

These of course require very different skills and dextality.

And typical of trying out new techniques, I just made an annoying mistake. I accidentally scissor cut into the first two of the patterns I've already cut out, which means I've to do it again.

[tonofelephant]

Okay I bite, what is your final objective with the inflatables? Are you making the prototypes to match/surpass McCarthy's work in size?

The inflatables look very interesting. I like the idea on reflection. Pokes fun at art in a sly way. Large and substantial but squishy, substantial size but filled with air (windbag??), kinetic in a breezy kind of way.

Carl
www.wsggallery.com

[Merlion]

Okay I bite, what is your final objective with the inflatables? Are you making the prototypes to match/surpass McCarthy's work in size?

I do enjoy the challange of trying new sculptural techniques. And this one is suitable for making large sculptural works. Also, perhaps not many other male sculptors would like to go into this personally as it involves sewing and seamstress skills.

As for your second question, why not? Of course this is if and when one day I can get very large commissions 'to match/surpass McCarthy's work in size'? :p After all I am a mechanical engineer and these very tall works involve many electric fan blowers and tension cables to stablise them against large wind forces. I may even add mechanical elements to make them really mobile.

Anyway, back from day dreaming, here's a later photo of the round inflatable I am still cutting and sewing to try out the idea.

[Merlion]

Sorry folks, although I started this thread asking for help on inflated or inflatable sculptures, I have since turned it over to showing my self-help exploration into this technique.

This should be my last post showing what I've managed to do. It is a nice rounding up as this shows my work being blown up successfully.

[Arrow]

Welding plastic with oven paper and soldering iron:

http://www.instructables.com/ex/i/225FC2220F1B1029BC4A001143E7E506/

[grommet]

I didn't realize this was the type of inflatable you were talking about initially... Interesting links, new to me.

It would be great to see something other than the myriad cheesy seasonal inflatables. What did you have in mind? (Past posts leave me pretty confident that it's not a ducky holding an easter egg) :rolleyes:

[Arrow]

http://www.akairways.com/

Making of Centipede
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hXbaH4wqaM