My U3 project is a direct continuation and evolution of the research conducted in my previous semesters. As evidenced by my earlier work (U1/U2), I had already explored skeletal silhouettes through ‘soft material attempts’ and ‘acrylic cutting,’ and even began transforming these flat components into rudimentary 3D spinal structures, alongside initial experiments with 3D printing. This U3 work carries forward those core concepts—the skeletal silhouette, three-dimensional shaping, and exaggerated jewellery—but with a focused intent to leverage the full potential of 3D printing. My method began in Photoshop, defining the initial shape and researching ‘three-dimensional cutting’ principles to understand how these complex surfaces could form a cohesive whole. Critically, I deferred the problem of connection (noting rivets as a future possibility) to isolate and solve the primary challenge: the shape and structure itself. I then digitally disassembled this form into its constituent parts. These components are heavily referenced from the external contours of the human spine, but they are not literal copies; they have been subjected to significant artistic processing. All final forms are defined by silhouette deformations and illustrative interpretations of the spine, a specific technique I employed to consciously inject and reflect feminine characteristics within the work.
chuyun lu‘s 