21.11.20  Combining steel and textiles

The key issue with combining metal and textiles is that new steel normally has a layer of oil on it to stop it rusting. It means that it's dirty! When I work in the metal workshop my hands and overalls are black. If I leave the steel as it is anything that comes in contact with it will also get black oily marks on it. I don't think I want that for this piece as I want a stark contrast between hard and soft, and maybe also clean and dirty? 

​I could let it rust and have reflected here about To rust or not to rust but because I have started an experiment with rusting Body cage 1 and combining it with a blank canvas body, I want to try something different with Body cage 2.

I had thought about painting my concentric rings of steel, as I have bought some primer and bright yellow paint, but for this piece I want it to look like steel. I asked Si about options and he's suggesting I clean the metal and then wax it. It will look like steel, will no longer be dirty and the wax won't mark whatever I decide to use to connect the rings. We also talked about using some kind of varnish, but he said it can crack and look terrible. I can't help thinking I might like that. So maybe I should try that too for another sculpture.

It is interesting to think about potentially combining dirt with textiles. I've written more about Clean or dirty materials processes here.