"mute" sculpt. for art show

[stoneindian]

this is a sculpt. i'm working on for an art show for grad. students. the top few pics are of the sculpt. being prepared for molding. the bottom pics are of the casting and my first color test and sweat test using epoxy. the show focuses on the word "mute" this is my interpretaion of the word. the guy has no arms, legs, he is blind and has no ability to speak. C&C
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v691/stoneindian/mute.jpg

[SJ Bennighof]

This is very evocative, but I guess I'm having issues with the mouth. The mere presence of lips tends to take away from the mute feeling, and the way the skin over the mouth is stretched kind gives me the feeling that someone could talk through it in some form or other, especially since the lips would probably not be so prominent if there was a presence of skin over the mouth; they wouldn't be able to pull the extra skin enough to be able to fill out like that above and below the mouth, they'd be much flatter and perhaps non-existent entirely. Compare to the "how can you make a phone call if you cannot speak" scene in The Matrix. The screaming expression and the wide-open-ness of his jaw adds to this; it feels as if the force of will is able to overcome the limitations, and I hear the guy scream when I look at him, as well as the body language of his face, which is able to convey many things. Now, for all I know this may be the point of the sculpture. If it is intended to convey a feeling of total isolation to anf from the world, however, the mouth fights this intent, in my opinion.

Am I off base, or is someone else getting the same feeling?

Very, very good piece, though. Makes me feel trapped.

[stoneindian]

Thanks for the feedback. With this sculpt. I'm trying to create a since of panic, stress, and anguish. Like this situation was thrust on him at that exact second. I hope the sculpture gives a feeling of being trapped. The lips I feel add a more dynamic expression. I did try the no lips approch, it just didn't have the same impact.

[SJ Bennighof]

Very good, and that's the extent of my 0.02, seeing as how you tried it the other way as well.

And when I say "makes me feel trapped", I mean in a right-between-the-eyes sort of way. And I suppose when viewed in that instantaneous context especially, the mouth presents no problem whatsoever, as the concerns I noted only appeared after closer examination. Keep it up!