Stairs and Materials

A Study of an Artwork

Initial Stage: All my life, I thought I was lost and kept on finding a path. However, I truly believe I was not lost in the past rather I am lost today even if I keep stepping up through the stairs. The conception of this artwork came from this very idea and slowly transformed into other perspectives and learnings of mine over the years.

Figure 1: Initial Stage of Stairs Outline, Photographed by Reza, June 2024

Inspiration: I have been uninspired for a while now. Thus, I took out my previous sketchbooks to find myself. Who was I? Who am I? Who I will be? Looking at my numerous study workbooks and sketchbooks, I met my version in the 20s. Wasn’t she a delight? Wasn’t she a visionary and a creative person? Perhaps she was just working hard to come this far and not to be lost.

Concept: My initial inspiration came from the A4 layout of the sketchbook. Traditional gap for margins and three segments of stairs and showcasing materials in each section – bricks, concrete blocks and stoned arches.

Process: I envisioned three segments of tri-materials in which one layer of steps in each section would suffice. However, as the artwork continued, proportion demanded that two layered stairs with a mezzanine landing may enrich the aesthetics.

Details: Each blocks were treated with different construction lines to achieve material details as an architectural elevation. An intentional case of putting the modern material of concrete in between the traditional bricks and arch-stones. Why?

In neo-classical architecture, the stone treatment as such was used at the ground level to portray masculinity as if the bigger stone blocks were holding the feminine polished ashlar stones in the piano-nobilé. I decided to keep the patriarchy on the top to express that other stronger roots can be reversed and can hold diverse layers of materials.

The Output: The concept with three segments, stairs and tri-materials was adequate. However, the artwork needed life. Only one species is known to be celebrating life… so I added human figures with various activities.