NYC GRILLS - TOPOGRAPHIES OF TASTE

THIS PIECE IS THE NEW YORK CITY ENTRY IN MY TOPOGRAPHIES OF TASTE SERIES, REPRESENTING WHERE MY MOTHER LIVES AND WORKS. THE DESIGN UTILIZES AN OPEN-FACE OR WINDOWED STRUCTURE ACROSS THE FRONT TEETH, A SPECIFIC STYLE THAT IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN NEW YORK GRILL CULTURE. I ADAPTED THIS FRAMEWORK TO VISUALLY MIMIC THE DENSE, REPEATING ARCHITECTURE AND TOWERING WINDOWS OF THE CITY. FLANKING THIS CENTRAL SECTION ARE SOLID, FULLY CAPPED TEETH THAT PORTRAY THE SURROUNDING COMMUTER SUBURBS, ACKNOWLEDGING THE AREA THIRTY MINUTES OUTSIDE THE CITY WHERE MY MOTHER ACTUALLY RESIDES. THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE DENSE URBAN CENTER AND THE OUTSKIRTS IS TRANSLATED DIRECTLY INTO THE METAL THROUGH TARGETED SURFACE TREATMENTS. I GAVE THE FRONT WINDOWED SECTION A BRUSHED FINISH, LEAVING A RAW, MATTE TEXTURE THAT REFLECTS THE GRIT OF THE CITY ENVIRONMENT. IN CONTRAST, THE SOLID OUTER CAPS ARE BROUGHT TO A HIGH POLISH, REPRESENTING THE CLEANER, MORE STRUCTURED NATURE OF THE SUBURBS. LIKE THE REST OF THE SERIES, THIS PIECE WAS FABRICATED THROUGH LOST-WAX CASTING. SCULPTING THE DESIGN DIRECTLY OVER A PLASTER MODEL OF MY OWN TEETH TO ENSURE AN EXACT FIT, PHYSICALLY LINKING MY OWN ANATOMY TO MY FAMILY'S GEOGRAPHIC FOOTPRINT.