Gold fish

I created this piece around the idea of wanting to be loved by someone, gradually transforming oneself, and eventually losing sight of who one originally was. Changing yourself for another person can seem like the ultimate act of devotion, but at the same time it can also feel like an obsessive kind of coercion, so I aimed for an expression that carries both of those conflicting qualities.

Since “transformation” was the central theme, I made extensive use of gradients in both the sculpting and the paintwork to convey the sense of continual change. I was also conscious of making the curves flow pleasantly from every angle, so that the piece would feel visually smooth and organic as a whole.

At first, I intended for the project to remain entirely digital, and only modeled the main figure. However, after attending Wonder Festival for the first time, I was overwhelmed by the energy and passion of analog sculpting, and I became determined to output it and create a physical version myself. I struggled through one hurdle after another—figuring out how to support the figure so it could stand, trying painting for the first time, and much more—but somehow, in the end, I managed to complete it as my very first analog sculpting work. The whole process of trial and error was incredibly enjoyable.