let's whip up some dough and create sensory sculptures inspired by yoshitomo nara’s exhibition, i forgot their names and often can’t remember their faces but remember their voices well. squish, roll and poke this edible medium into expressive, lumpy characters!

all ages with adult supervision

supplies

• 6 large marshmallows

• 2 teaspoons coconut oil

• 4 tablespoons cornstarch

• food coloring (optional)

• large microwave safe bowl

• mixing spoon

**CAUTION: This process includes the use of kitchen appliances and contents may become hot to the touch. adult supervision or help is advised.**

step 1

add marshmallows and coconut oil to your large bowl. warm in the microwave for 30 seconds, then stir the soft mixture together, adding in your desired food coloring (optional).

step 2

once thoroughly stirred, add and stir in the cornstarch.

step 3

when the dough is cool enough to handle, rub a small amount of coconut oil on your hands and begin kneading with your hands. if the dough feels too sticky, add a little more cornstarch until you reach your desired texture.

form your sculpture!

take a look at the sculptures in yoshitomo nara’s exhibition. look at their shape and textures. how do these objects make you feel? how would you describe these sculptures to someone else?

hold your unformed dough in your hands and close your eyes. fold, twist, knead, stretch, roll, poke, and pinch your dough lump. as you become familiar with the material in your hands, start to imagine what it might become.

• what might it look like?

  • will it be round or flat — tall or short?

  • is it an object or a creature?

  • will it be smooth or textured?

• does it have markings? 

  • what might the marking be used for? 

  • could these markings carry any specific meaning? what might those be?

• will you give your lump a face? 

  • what expressions might it make? 

  • how do these expressions make you feel? 

  • how do you hope others will feel when they look at your squishy friend?

when you have a clear image of what you might create, imagine your dough taking on that form—absorbing the feelings you wish it to convey to others.

once you feel ready, form your soft sculpture!

when it looks just as you’d hoped, give it a name. 

• what made you decide to make this specific creature?

• does it have its own backstory? 

• what will it do now that you’ve brought it to life?

be sure to share your (edible) soft sculpture by using the hashtag #dcfromhome

** all (edible) soft sculpture dough should be used for one play time only, and either consumed or discarded after use.**