Is it possible for artists to create a narrative (story) within a single image?
Art has perhaps constantly been around as a form of expression, since first men were able to pick up a rock and hit it hard enough against stone or a tree to leave a mark – and for as long as art and its deviatory forms have been around we have used it not only as a form of expression but as a form of storytelling and way to communicate a series or singular set of emotions through it. With the invention and advancement of technology in general, and the approach of industrialisation, forms of art and images have also been adopted for other purposes other than to communicate; express, or simply record information and memories. It has indeed been used all around the globe to sell as propaganda for products or to appeal in the name of any given cause as and inspire actions through a form of visual stimulation or layout – sometimes, filled with text as a mean of making such message clearer to the observer; but often what seems to speak the most to us, are Images that use no text. Images that are powerful enough to make their point well spelled out and clear, to convey their meaning and communicate a story through a single illustration. Narratives are pictures that move a person through a story in a pleasurable and compelling fashion there are different types moving a reader independently through a piece often creating a new meaning from discovering connection. There are different types and kinds of narratives: Linear, are images that depict the passing of time and/or space in a single image. Then we have aggregate narratives which that instead depict the relationship between different things in a single image composed of multiple parts and finally; Paneled narratives that instead depict the passage of time and/or space in multiple sequenced images. But they all share one important and key feature: they tell us a story. Those images speak to us in a manner that no other can as we question and begin to wander what moment of time is that to capture – and keep still for everyone to see, pictures that speak in a manner as to prolong their existence not on the page or in the physical form but instead to prolong their existence and leave a mark in the mind of the observer – causing questionings as to what is happening? What will happen in the moments after the still, if it were to “continue” in its course? What did happen before the immortalisation of the moment what caused the arrangement of elements in the piece to be where they are the circumstances to be in that particular way? Artists have to use specific techniques to achieve this effect and this connotation in their artwork – the most obvious sense would be to give the piece a sort of “movement” or “momentum” – this is when an artist creates images or takes pictures mid action, in a way to create all the connotations previously listed and make the observer ask himself questions as to what the subject or context of the piece is either moving to or towards or where it is coming from. However all for of narratives do this by including Semiotics in their work which are visual clue or sign that are combined into patterns that transmit message to the viewer. That means that the artist will speak to the observer though the use of symbols – so objects or pieces in the image are there to represent something else as well as what they are initially. The use of symbols is common in literature as well as imagery art – but in art pieces usually the majority of object or actions performed in a narrative are symbolic, and they instead hide a meaning or a message beyond what the eye can see, thus forcing the observer to widen their approach beyond the simple observation in order to fully grasp the meaning and narrative of the piece. For a piece of work to be successfully be labelled as a narrative it has to raise question marks – and the more effectively and amply it does this the more successful this will make the piece – Artists therefore attempt to do this by communicating or expressing their emotions or simply expressing ideas in their mind through the story telling of a piece.
“Tight rope walker” Eric Fortune Eric fortune is an emerging modern artist that explores the idea of narrative and abstract as a way of expression through his art. His many pieces are slowly establishing a new modern Retro approach to storytelling and narrative amongst artwork. Lyrical, haunting, yet poignant at the same time, Eric Fortune’s paintings make lasting impressions. These are characters who are neither out of place in the world, nor at home in it — they are characters wrapped in their own worlds. The emotionally complex metaphors Fortune paints are richly evocative. His imagery is quiet yet dynamic, and seasoned with a touch of surrealism that takes us to captivating places. Packed with emotional nuances he creates soft yet riveting lighting and atmosphere. With uncompromising patience and discipline he slowly builds up his luminous characters and worlds until they radiate life. And so what sometimes seems to be a simple image to the viewer becomes richer and richer as he or she becomes increasingly entranced by the emotional presences within the art.
Eric is an artist based out of Columbus, Ohio. He received his BFA from Columbus College of Art and Design where he was honored with the Outstanding Senior Award upon graduation. His work continued to garner acclaim with the acceptance into such prestigious annual competitions as The Society of Illustrators NY and LA as well as Spectrum and others. He was the Artist Guest of Honor for ConGlomeration and was recently awarded the Jack Gaughan Award for Best Emerging Artist of 2009. Currently Eric is focusing his efforts on personal paintings and upcoming gallery shows. He has shown or will be showing at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery(NY) , LeBasse Projects (LA), Copro Nason Gallery (LA), Roq La Rue Gallery (Seattle), Gallery 1988 (LA), and many others. I think his work has a great way of express and narrate through a single image. For example his first piece creates that momentum in the picture which leaves the witness wanting and imagining more of the sequence that still is from -‐ again a great way to intrigue and make his work worth to double look. Tight rope walker is a beautiful piece of skilful digital painting; portraying a semi naked rope walker over what can be assumed is an abstract being and two eyes – this work has a major colour theme which and warm and hot motive due to the predominance of red and magenta tones combined with the blue and indigo shades, which creates a sense of contrast possibly mirroring the mood of the Rope walker which is torn between the two weights at his sides. The eyes looking toward the rope walker seem of scrutiny nature – in a sense to observe and compel the character for focus, however one eye is instead staring into the distance. This was perhaps to represent the worries and preoccupations of the Rope Walker which is symbolically and physically naked in front of such scrutiny and weight of judgement coming from below, and only a wrong step away from falling into reality . His work can be often be abstract and apparent of no deeper meaning than perhaps only of his personal expression of emotion through his work -‐ however a lot of his work evokes feelings by him experienced and tugs at them in the observer. Eric’s work is predominantly if not singularly all digital painting -‐ through this media he achieves a retro outlook and overall sense by using a soft faded range of colours with nothing too bright or pungent in his work. Also creating a often overly complex and abstract built environment around his subject perhaps to symbolize the complexity of the human mind and emotions in which he seems to be immersing when creating his art. Lune dans un bocal (moon in a jar)
Vincent Bourilhon Other artists on the other hand use photography and photo manipulation to produce instead very appealing and stunning narratives that guide us through a story with emotions. An example of this is photographer Vincent Bourilhon. Vincent Bourillon is a Photographer from Paris he has been a photographer since he was sixteen and was inspired as young by simple things like newspapers lying around and was inspired to create his own and attempt to explore the world of photography in order to express his love of poetry, cinema and sports all reflected onerously in his work. Vincent has worked for many companies including MyMajorCompany, Sony Distribuition and also Derhy Kids. His work has been subjected to several exposition due to its compelling and suggesting nature – and has had many of his photography published in Magazines and the Press. Vincent uses graphical and digital retouching to finish his work and achieve the outcome in his pieces, in this artwork of the Moon in a jar – he explores the concept of a character wandering and staring into something so beautiful and mysterious as the moon and stars – which have puzzled humanity for ages. This connotes that the character in his work is dreaming or simply in awe at its content, though it seems impossible for us to comprehend how the moon and star could simply be captured in a jar. This piece of work has a predominately blue and dark yet luminous tone – this is achieved through the increase glow of the jar’s spilling content into the face of the character which is to symbolize its projection of majesty into the mind of both character and observer of the artwork. The predominately blue and otherwise dark tone of the picture sets an anything but dark mood – instead through the angle of the photography which is taken at ground horizon level we feel as close as to the events as possible, almost intimately, sharing the experiences of the subject; as this work is the perfect example on how Photo Manipulation is able to really connote and link to the audience as its realism combined with surreal concept create a very strong storytelling in a single picture. Both of these are contemporary artist which are modern enough to explore the way of producing artwork and concepts of today which is also greatly reflected in their work through their use of colour and material in general. However Narratives and the use of Storytelling isn’t a concept recent as we discussed at the beginning and great artists experimenting with this idea of painting were around and made famous by it even in earlier years; a perfect example of this is Edward Hopper. Nighthawks 1942
Edward Hopper Edward Hopper is an American painter that born in 1882 and deceased in the 1967. He lived and studied in Paris which was a the time the artistic centre of the Wester world, and no other city was as important for the development of modern art – and it is here that he moved toward and developed the abstract painting styles that made his work famous. He adopted Impressionism in his work after a first discovery of them – in which the light in these paintings and thematic treatment of architecture and nature particularly attracted him and were a major influence in his work. His choices of subject matter -‐ particularly the places he painted -‐ seem to have been somewhat unpredictable, since they were part of his constant battle with the chronic boredom that often stifled his urge to paint. This is what kept Hopper on the move -‐ his search for inspiration, least painfully found in the stimulation of new surroundings. Edward Hopper received further praises for the works he had done, and for a piece that was on exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art. His highly identifiable style, and mature painting styles, were some things he had become known for during this period. The gorgeous landscapes, the quiet rooms and empty rooms he designed, and the transitory effect which many of his works posed, created a sense of contemporary life and a new style, which any in the art world recognized, and many praised him for this distinct style he had created in his art forms. Above is Edward Hopper's most famous piece, Nighthawks, there are four customers and a waiter, who are in a brightly lit diner at night. It was a piece created during a wartime; and many believe that their disconnection with the waiter, and with the external world, represent the feelings of many Americans during this period, because of the war. This piece is astonishingly beautiful in the disconnection motive that prevails in this piece of art as often his theme was predominantly one of loneliness and detachment in his work. This piece was and amazing work of art attempting to capture the night-‐time effects of manmade light combined filled with astonishing reflections and sources of light that accentuate certain areas of the painting whit multiple shadows cast in the shop by the bright light used and the shadows of created in the street by the lamppost invisible to us, combined with the exterior lights and reflections on the pavement surrounding the bar projected by the bright interior light. All this combined with the mood of the subjects creates a spectacular gloomy setting where a time of hardship and coldness is visible through the oil. This work is an astonishing piece of Narrative as the way it speaks to the audience and simply communicates its mood and message – makes it an astonishing piece of storytelling. Ultimately I believe that an image is capable of moving and taking the observer through a journey of emotion and concept otherwise to them unknown and unexperienced – at the guide of the artist, Narratives tend to work in a non-‐linear way where interpretation and personal views and thoughts help us makes sense o the world around us and therefore of the art we experience. Where a single image is often more than enough to express a story or message – we live in a world where experimentation and finding new means of expression is constantly emerging, meaning we will only have more means and ways to achieve expression and storytelling. Stories help us see how other view the world and help us find meaning in our lives. They help us grief and help us celebrate, console us, and reinvent us-‐ they enrich the of illustration helping us give and put meaning into otherwise lifeless objects and sceneries. Displaying how a single image can summon the main concept that is the core of human experience. Storytelling. http://www.ericfortune.com/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Hopper http://www.edwardhopper.net/ http://www.vincent-‐bourilhon.com/ http://moca.org/pc/viewArtTerm.php?id=24 http://cornwallartists.org/