Practicing & Experimenting with 'Hanging' Options...

I collected a couple of materials I thought could potentially be effective options where holding and/or supporting the plants for my installation. Clear baubles were my first point of experimentation - as seen in the images below they can be halved in order to fill them. In addition to this I collected three shatterproof round glass jars - both options are no bigger than what can sit in the palm of my hand. The glass being shatterproof does not mean it doesnt break, but rather smashes if dropped but remains to somewhat stick together in its original shape - the point is to avoid small pieces of glass spreading.

Within the images below, I am experimenting with my first 'hanging' material, copper wire. I was apprehensive about copper wire and how easy it would be to work with, however this inspiration comes from Rebecca Louise Law consistently using it across the work of her hanging installations, also. Where a ball is a more difficult shape to hang, I went for a somewhat classic attachment method, securing the ball from each side and tying at the top. The aim of using a clear bauble would be to cut a medium sized hole through each bauble, to the side and up (as if north east or north west) - through this the plants would be able to live and be watered.

Within the photographs below, I focused on potentially using only half of a bauble. However, there wasnt a strong enough method of holding the ball with the wire, that I was confident in - where the wire can easily be bent, it could not completely 'stick' or wrap itself around the half-baubles enough to hold them securely. To the bottom of this set of images, I attempted the same method mentioned previously, however this too did not prove secure enough for me, where using only half of the baubles. This also isn't to mention that there would be a limited amount of space for any plants to live or grow.

Before nearly disregarding the copper wire, I wanted to try securing it around the glass jars. Where the glass was slightly heavier than the plastic baubles, it did in fact make the way the copper sat around the glass more effective - the wire bent from the strain of the glass to a point of holding it more securely. But I was still apprehensive of the overall security.

Instead of hanging, I briefly considered using the wire to create a freestanding background. Copper wire proved to be too thin and flimsy as an option for holding potentially multiple plants and their containers, so this idea was not one I took forward.

Deciding that the copper wire would not be successful where attempting to secure the elements of my installation, I did not continue experimenting with it - additionally, the plastic baubles could not hold the contents I would like them to, and plastic is not really the type of material I want to work with. Where my project aims to represent the benefits of biophilic design, I wanted to use a glass element as a more eco-friendly option - glass will also be of benefit to the plants inside where allowing them to gain the light they will need to grow. I continued my experimentation by practicing with multiple pieces of very thin string combined, to secure and hold the glass containers. This instantly proved to be a much more effective and reliable material - it felt a lot safer hanging the glass in this way!

The problem I found with the glass jars hanging in this way, is that there is not a lot of room for potential habitants (plants) to grow, move and breath. The photographs below are a second attempt I considered and practiced, however this soon did not prove to be secure or balanced.

Continuing practice and experimentation hanging the glass jars upright and with the string. I secured and hung three to briefly analyse how they would act in certain environments. Within the photos below, I opened a window that was near to my practice installation to analyse how they would cope with breezes - a potential concern my tutor Eleni raised with me. Where considering any breezes from open windows or heavy doors within a hospital space, I needed to decide whether this hanging method would or wouldn't be successful.

Evidently, the glass jars moved and swayed in the wind, resulting in them clashing - they didn't make pleasant sounds and watching them move was more nerve-wracking than calming! Having been moved and readjusted from the movement of the wind, the string around the glass soon moved itself and was no longer as secure as it seemed, as shown below.

From here, I decided to change my material whilst using the same hanging method. The string I am using is the final material I aim to use where potentially hanging my pieces, as it is strong but 100 % biodegradable. The twine is Jute fibre which is sourced from the plants of the genus Corchorus, making it a completely natural product - perfect where considering my biophilic design installation. The twine proved very secure where holding the glass, and I even attempted using it to secure the glass in a different position. However, the issue of the glass hanging and clashing at the reaction of a slight breeze was enough for me to confirm to myself that I needed to practice a different way of securing my installation.