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Gleep in salon 96

Ellie Dowse

Profile picture of Ellie Dowse

I am a first-class honours graduate from Technical Arts for theatre and performance.

Once I graduated, I went straight into the world of work as a scenic production technician for Thorpe Park Fright Nights. This contract is coming to an end, and I am onto my next adventure at Warner Bros as a studio sets and lighting technician.

I love themed and immersive entertainment!

I have an array of skills ranging from sculpting, painting, prop making, moulding, casting, filming, editing, etc!

I am a first-class honours graduate from Technical Arts for theatre and performance.

Once I...

The Glorponians are obsessed with the 60s. My best guess is that Earth sent some stuff into space in the 60s, and it’s only just reached them.

Anyway.

Some Glorponians idolize that suburban life. The white picket fence, the astroturf lawn, and that oh so lovely husband.

One problem, Glorponians are weird blobs of blue. That would just not go down well on Earth. This is where Salon 96 comes in. Salon 96 is a tacky, sort of gross, salon that transforms Glorponians into beautiful humans (yes, they all end up looking like the same woman – me!) Here we see Gleep, mid-transformation, hence the weird proportions and bubbly skin. She's getting ready for her trip to Earth!

This salon is interactive, please look around and see what you can find/do. Maybe sit next to Gleep, she looks a bit lonely, or rummage through her bag and see what she’s taking with her! This piece is an immersive/interactive salon with an animatronic alien.

Her body and legs were life casted in jesmonite and her arms, feet and face in monster clay so they could be sculpted on and then cast in silskin (silicone). However, yes, my toes do actually look like that...

Final work

a pink room with pink retro style salon chairs. Sat in the chairs is a life size animatronic blue alien. there are posters on the wall

Gleep in salon 96

I love immersive and interactive things. I have always been obsessed with scare mazes and anything interactive which is why it was vital for me that my final piece was as fun and immersive as possible.

At the salon you could sit next to gleep, you could read a magazine, draw on the table, touch the 'gum' under the table, phone gleep up and hear her answering message and you could go through her bag to see what she was taking to earth. The salon also smelt of bubblegum thanks to the diffuser that was hidden in the hairdryer.

Ellie Dowse - Wimbledon UAL interview

This interview basically explains my final piece. I was very grateful to get to talk about it and show off all the cool elements!

Gleep in salon 96 - animatronics

Gleep was an animatronic. I wanted the piece to be cheeky and playful and gleep really added to that. Her sassy nail filing and foot tapping helped convey her attitude.

The toenail painter on the floor did a terrible job which is exactly what I wanted. The salon was tacky and flirty which is always a fun aesthetic.

Gleep in salon 96 - advert

I had a tv in my final piece playing this 'advert' to basically explain to people what was going on in the piece.

I love film making and editing so this was also a way to use my skills in that area as well.

I didn't have long to make this but I think it was a fun addition to the piece.

Research and process

  • a blue silicone head getting hair punched into the sideburns
  • jesmonite legs with a monster clay foot - blending the foot into the leg
  • leg moulds on a table being covered in jesmonite
  • a sculpt in monster clay of the alien - it is about to be moulded so has cards placed into it
  • monster clay arms in a two part silicone mould
  • a jesmonite torso with legs sat on a wooden box

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Gleep in salon 96

The Glorponians are obsessed with the 60s. My best guess is that Earth sent some stuff into space in the 60s, and it’s only just reached them.Anyway.Some Glorponians idolize that suburban life. The white picket fence, the astroturf...

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