The Queen's Final Flight - A Laser Cut Automata
Interactive Sculpture, A2 size, Plywood layers
"The Queen is wise and the Queen is old. She knows her aging body will last only so long, and she senses the raging desire of her daughters, Anthea and Acantha, to supersede her place on the Golden Honey Throne. They won't kill her themselves, but she will die under the fury of the instigated workers, helpless and barren of dignity. Her mind is made up; she gathered two of her trusted drones and made ready her departure. They will leave in the cold dark of the night. They most probably won't survive in the brutal winter frost, but at least she will die on her own terms. Will one final, lingering look at what was once her immense kingdom, she spreaded her wings and flew."
Concept
The inspiration for this work came from Gothic architecture. We admire the grandiosity and sweeping curves that are characteristic of this movement, and regardless of the scale of the work, this aesthetic never looks out of place. In fact, the top half of the frame of this automata project is a classic Recto arch where its springing height is equal to its total width. Everything else in the structure was drawn using this main line as reference.
Additionally, Japanese Kumiko woodwork patterns contributed much in guiding the styling of the final details. Original Kumiko patterns were always done by hand and showcased an exquisite sensitivity to craftsmanship and proportion. Also, many Kumiko patterns were hexagonal based, which, as the frame structure was composed of honeycomb, was a very natural adaptation.
