This was an open project, in which I knew I wanted to do an installation piece.  I wanted to play with physical space and how people mentally view "their" space.  This led me to focus on what people call their "personal bubble."

I took a literal interpretation and vacuum-formed clear PETG in the shape of bubble wrap.  I altered plastic figurines to look more abstract, took molds off of them, and then created resin positives.  I wanted the figures to have the essence of being people, but no one in particular.  There are figures in various stages of breaking free from the bubble wrap.  Some are completely stuck, some have just broken free, some have touched the ground, and others have escaped.

An interesting thing happened as I kept making resin positives.  My molds wore out and the figures started developing excess resin bases. I decided to use this to my advantage.  The figures that are the furthest away are the ones that have bases, making it look as if they have been frozen in space.  This iterates the idea that it is hard to break free from our personal bubbles.

This piece requires viewers to be cognizant of where they step.  During the installation, a few of the figures became victims, once again showing the fragility of life outside our personal bubbles.  The piece is translucent, meaning if viewers want to see the bubble wrap, they have to catch it in the light or stand relatively close.  In some views, all that can be seen are the silhouettes of the figures.

Given that this is a hanging piece, it rotates and sways.  All of the pieces of bubble wrap are connected to one another, so they move simultaneously and effect one another.  This represents the conflict as well as accommodation that comes when one encounters another's personal bubble.