Final Collages
Posted: May 2, 2016 Filed under: Documentation, Subject, Uncategorized 1 Comment
Since shifting to collage, i’ve created a vast amount of images. However, i’ve had to go through a selective process. I was encouraged to put all of my collages up, which would number about 80-100, but i didn’t want to compromise on quality over quantity. I personally felt that some worked better than others, and if there was a wall filled, then people might be less likely to take the time to encage with the collages, but rather, glaze over the piece as a whole, losing the message behind them. While i’ve tried to ensure that the relationship between each image works as a whole piece, i wanted the strength of each individual collage to call out to the viewer. After selecting about 20, i laid them out and had to find a successful composition for them, but it was clear that i needed more. In the end, I decided that i wanted them as a kind of cluster of collages, to resemble the jumble of life, that this message is universal and should cater to everyone. Everyone is different and some will prefer some images more than others. I want the viewer to be able to chose what speaks to them most, But i’ve tried to ensure that each collage emulates my theme successfully. I also wanted the collages to be aesthetically pleasing because of the intimidating nature of my theme, i’d been struggling throughout this year to find and appropriate approach to portraying a modern day momento mori. And to have appealing imagery, re-enforces the sense that death is natural, and something to welcome into society, rather than be intimidated by it, and keep it behind closed doors.
Collage Animation
Posted: April 25, 2016 Filed under: Documentation, Subject 2 Comments
Here is my final animation. It took a long time to finalise it but i’m quite happy with the result. Seeing as it’s a medium i’ve never worked in, i think it’s quite effective. I decided to use charcoal as the main material for the portrait, as i found that when i continually moved it to the scanner, it would fade and smudge, and created life within the animation. It made the portrait feel more substantial as the image developed and formed the whole piece. I also decided to use my mother as the model, as i felt that having a personal input to the piece, would resonate with the over all effect. To any one else, it would just be a stranger, but i found that when drawing her, i was able to instil more emotion within the work, than wouldn’t be there if i had just used an image of someone i didn’t know. So there was an emotional process as well as the technical process, and as i cut away at her to reveal the image of space underneath, there was quite an unusual feeling, and i did get a sense of acceptance of the inevitability and the ephemeral nature of death. i like to think that the animation is provocative, however, i don’t think it’s what i want to display as my final work. After meeting with Neil and experimenting with the projection, i felt that it didn’t hold as much strength as my collages. It focuses on one specific attitude and element of my theme, where as my collages explores various avenues within my concept. I also think that the projection environment would be too intimidating and forces the viewer into a certain habitat and state of mind. The environment would only isolate the projection and theme, much like we do in modern western society, you would have to enter into a closed space to experience the work, but i want my work to be understood as a universal and everyday occurrence. Throughout my work this year, i’ve wanted to strike a less aggressive approach to Memento Mori, and i think that the animation is just not as appropriate as my collages.
Illustration Fair
Posted: April 20, 2016 Filed under: Documentation, Subject, Uncategorized Leave a comment
I’ve been producing work along side my course, trying to secure myself as a freelance illustrator, as i feel that it would prove to be a successful venture for me after uni. It may be unrelated to my work at uni, but i still think that what i produce at any time, feeds all other work. I’m always learning new techniques and inspiration can come from anywhere. i’m really excited to push my work out there, selling pieces at different events, including the Brighton Illustration Fair at the end of May. My experience in third year has taught me a lot about what is expected of an artist in the working world, and has allowed me to prove to myself that i’m committed to this career choice. A feeling that i hope will spur me on the the end of this year, and beyond.
Building It Up
Posted: April 14, 2016 Filed under: Documentation, Subject, Uncategorized Leave a comment
So my collage collection has been building. It seems to be a habit now. It’s really engrossing and i get a lot of satisfaction from the process. I want to keep building my collection, so if i choose to display them, i will have a wide range to choose from. of course some are going to be better than others, and i have to be careful not to sacrifice quality over quantity.
Early Animation Prototypes
Posted: April 14, 2016 Filed under: Documentation, Subject Leave a comment
This is an early experiment of using charcoal and the scanner to make my animation. After doing the pencil prototypes, i wanted to see how successful the scanner technique would be. It seems to be steadier and stronger with the charcoal. However i still need to decide on portrait subject. For this one, i’ve used my brother, but i don’t feel confident in my ability to draw him. I haven’t given myself enough time to really dedicate myself to the skill of drawing AND learning the animation on photoshop. However, i think i might practice in the next week or so, to get my skills up to scratch for the animation, otherwise, i think that the essence of the work will be lost.
Continuing To Collage
Posted: April 13, 2016 Filed under: Documentation, Subject Leave a comment
I’m still unsure as to weather or not i will use animation as my final piece, so i’m still creating collages. I’m really enjoying the process of the medium and have found that there’s a lot of focus required for each image. Going through piles and piles of papers to find images that work well together has been quite time consuming because for me, the composition is vital. The work is still playful, but i don’t want to lose focus of my theme. and each image seems to resonate something that will lead to another image. I’m trying to make sure they work together while simultaneously stand strong on their own as an individual collage. A particular aesthetic has evolved from my work in collage, and i’m starting to think that they might be more effective and provocative than my animation which is still on going.
Animation Experiments
Posted: March 21, 2016 Filed under: Documentation, Subject, Uncategorized Leave a comment
This is the first experiment i did using a series of photographs throughout the process of drawing my brother. Aware that this is an early attempt at frame photography animation, i did it in studio and is therefore not particularly solidified in technique. But i have to consider things like materials and technique, in order to achieve a successful final animation.
This is the second attempt at stop motion, again using photographs. I was trying to gauge the potential success of this technique, however i feel that even if i used a camera held in place, it would be difficult to keep the image consistently central and would make the editing process too complicated. I’ve had to learn very quickly how to make this form of animation, which i have found to be very time consuming and has resulted in less of a focus on the image and more of the technique. however, i’ve been trying to consider what would be appropriate for a final animation, and that perhaps scanning the images would give a stronger effect of picking up the image process, as well as, keeping the process as simple as possible, considering my time restrictions.
Travelling to the Wonderland
Posted: March 2, 2015 Filed under: Context, Subject | Tags: context 1 Comment
Xu Bing is a chinese artist who spent 18 years in the United States but is currently residing in Beijing. His work is centred around his heritage and our perception of language, using chinese as the basis for prints and large installations.
His piece ‘Travelling to the Wonderland’ he produced in 2013, seems particularly relevant to my current direction in my subject work. Inspired by a classic chinese fable ‘The Peach Blossom Spring’, Xu Bing was invited to transform the garden of the V&A, into a utopian are for peace and harmony for man to blossom, much like in the fable. Drawing from his cultural background, he produced pieces within the exhibit, inspired by the famous art of Chinese landscape scrolls, collected authentic specimens of Chinese rock, that he transported all the way to the museum, and with beautiful lighting and bird sounds, created an exquisite state for the viewer to exist in.
What’s most intriguing for me, is Xu Bings attitude towards this project. The natural world features throughout his work, but after reading up about his approach to this piece, i was delightfully enthused towards the continuation of my project. He says that in todays world, people find it hard to exist in a peaceful environment, that sets them in harmony within the chaos of their lives, and their surroundings. His aim was to create a direct contrast between his small serene village in the heart of the museum, to the bustling and noisy city that pervades just passed the museum walls.
A small side note, He used eight different types of rock from eight different regions of China, that represent the eight different styles in ancient Chinese landscape painting. This is interesting due to the fact that the number eight is a recurring number, throughout the religion. The relevance of this seems more than appropriate for my work, and i think it’s something to consider when i’m created my pieces, that this number could be a running theme, much like the figure in my work.
Xu Bing says that to respect and co-exist with nature, is a key element in Chinese culture, and that it is reflected in their art, and lifestyle. This, i do feel still holds an element of irony due to the polluted state of China, that their belief seems to be almost deluded, and that it’s enough just to glaze over the effect that their huge industries are having on their countries environment. But i think that’s something to draw upon later, in lieu with my work on the environment and our attitude towards it.
However, Bing touches upon the opinion that the Chinese appreciate ‘the stroke of genius’. That it can not be artificial, and only when the psychological rhythms of the individual is in sync with nature, can this effect be achieved. I think that’s the perfect attitude when it comes to my subject work. i’m specifically trying to work with the reconnection with man and nature. To draw light to the audience and influence their perspective on the environment they exist in, such as Xu Bing aims to do in his work. He has inspired me to push further with my project, to really open the eyes of a people.
Maki Ohkojima
Posted: February 11, 2015 Filed under: Context, Subject | Tags: context Leave a comment
I recently discovered this amazing Japanese artist, who has a largely relatable concept within her work. Her most recent exploration of imagination, has led her to produce these stunning multi media pieces that expand beyond the canvas. I love the way in which there’s an immediate implication that her own imagination has become so abundant that it broke out and caused her to free herself from the limits of the canvas, only using it as a core tool to enable this explosion of image and colour to occur. Her subject matter within the theme of ‘imagination’ is inevitably quite broad, however she has used various aspects of the theme that i find particularly relevant to my subject work. She draws upon cultural references such as animal and religious iconography, imaginary gods and spirit animals. All of these aspects are extremely influential to me in my ongoing project work, as the comparison between man’s continual disconnection with nature, and certain cultures that survive on the basis of a relationship between them and the ‘spirit animals’ is vital to the connotation of their kind.
kairosCinco 
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