QotD: What kind of tape is best for creating a sculpture?

The tape sculptor requires a full palette of tapes, just as the painter needs more than one color. First, one should decide what to use as a base. This can be any object, and many tape sculptors combine their expertise with the concepts of performance art by choosing a live subject as their base. Often a friend or sibling will volunteer, but one can easily use a pet. Simply be aware that later dismantling of the sculpture often leaves your friend or pet less hairy.

Duct tape is considered standard for the beginning of the work. Experiment to see whether a loose or a tight wrap better suits your purpose. Either way, this is the time to urge limbs into the proper stance. A point here concerns the eyes. Do you wish your sculpture to be able to see throughout the performance? Wide clear packing tape can be doubled, sticky sides together, and laid lightly over the eyes before being taped into place. This allows the subject to blink without yanking lashes out. Though slightly more difficult to find, you might wish to opt for a colored cellophane tape, which can help set the mood for your subject.

General molding comes next. Investigate the crumpling abilities of regular cellophane tape and masking tape in their variety of widths, and you’ll soon find the kind of lumps and bumps you wish to create. Set these in place on the body of the sculpture. These may be held in place using strapping tape. At this point, aim for a smoother surface, if desired.

Many like to use electrical tape for the final step, both because it gives enough to smooth around curves and corners, and provides a glossy finish. Only you can decide what the finished product should look like, however. One interesting new development hitting the galleries is a layer of double sided tape on the outside. Especially with the more active sculptures, this provides an opportunity for the piece to interact with the world, picking up bits and pieces from everything coming within touching distance.

Don’t forget the final step, which requires recording tape. While some are already arguing that CD recording is best, the bulk of experts still insist that cassette tape or even reel-to-reel preserves the gritty, realistic feel that tape sculpture demands. Photographs and moving pictures can only convey one aspect of the memory; it simply is not complete without the sound.