All From One

The All From One piece is cast by starting with one of my vase forms (second from the left) then casting its clay interior (third from the left) and its exterior mold form (first on the left) followed by a reverse casting of the original vase form (second from the right) along with its interior and exterior casts. Keeping all the original modular plaster mold blocks in the same order throughout the process of casting the different forms. Unlike conventional casting, with this process you can’t see what you’ll get ahead of time. It also is an exploration in both seeking out new forms through nontraditional casting techniques and putting more emphasis on the interiors of the casts, which are often overlooked.

— Kyle Johns

Using the traditionally rigid process of mold making that is at the core of industrial production, Kyle Johns deconstructs and reassembles plaster mold positives to create a multitude of unique forms. The work is created organically, responding to the outcomes and limitations of the process and material. Through play, variation and modification, Johns looks to change simple variables to create new methods and possibilities. He often references familiar domestic forms as a means to draw a broader connection to his work. These objects exist in the grey area between vessel and sculpture, and question the boundaries of design. Johns continues to explore the various degrees of functionality, from the practical to the sculptural, while generating new ideas for uses, forms, and processes.