Students strolling through the University’s campus may find life-sized replicas of some of their classmates, thanks to assistant professors Kris Palagi’s and Angeliki Sioli’s studio class. Though an annual occurrence, this year’s exhibit distinguished itself through its unconventional, Shakespearean theme.
Displayed at the Greek Amphitheatre, the exhibition of life-sized “clones” reflects first-year architecture students’ assignments for their Foundation Design Studio class. The class revealed the clones they created to campus on Monday.
Taught by both Palagi and Sioli, the studio class serves as an introduction to fundamental design principles, methods, visual judgment and the creative process. Instructed to use recycled cardboard and hot glue, Palagi said the assignment is a good project for the beginning of the semester.
“It doesn’t require the students to purchase any supplies, so everyone has access to the same materials,” he said.
Each year, Palagi assigns a theme to the project, This year’s theme required the first-year architecture students to select a scene from a Shakespearean play.
While many students chose scenes from Shakespeare’s famous Romeo and Juliet, Angela Harwood, communications manager for the LSU College of Art & Design, said she met students who incorporated scenes from A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Othello.
Throughout the exhibit, clones react to the scene through personal conditions such as a phone ringing, a sneeze, boredom, whispering to neighbor and more.
Because the pieces were featured in the Amphitheatre, the students had to consider weather conditions because the clones are expected to stand tall while on display. The students‘ grades on the clones reflect how well they interpret the assignment, the design aspect and the creativity of the poses, Palagi said.
Harwood said the students’ work speaks for itself.
“The students end up inspiring each other and even helping each other build their clones,” she said.

Gallery • 3 Photos

Anjana Nair

LSU Assistant Professor of architecture, Kris Palagi, has his students build a life-size "clone" they made of themselves on Sept. 12, 2016 in the Greek Amphitheater.