Little Alien started life as an abandoned mannequin. After cleaning years of neglect she was opened up by way of a Bosch hand tool. Then a paint layer, then another and another and another!! A wooden base was applied to the bottom for the fitting of some very tall hairpin legs. I made a wire shade and fitted an animal skull which I painted to the back, this gives such an amazing projection on the wall. Finally a long tubular bulb and here she is. Little Alien so very cool and quirky!
The only one in the world! www.melsartlamps.com
Inspired by everything that is hurtful about missing. The mannequin footlights are so great for maximum drama in a small precious space. The shade and tree made from plaster bandages a little missing figure nestles on a branch with a box of golden buttons. Charismatic and strange.
Almost complete now just some tweaks. Some openings had to be cut inside the walls to let in light to all 4 rooms from the two lamp sources, lamps are on a dimmer switch. I made some character ghosts with self drying clay then painted them with egg shell paint. I wanted to move them around like chess pieces within the structure of the house. They are all named and numbered, that gave me the idea that they could be part of a mini story in each room. The two legged hound and rabid rabbit stalk the ghostly grounds. The only fixed piece is the hanging man a nod to the song strange fruits, my favourite version by Nina Simone.
