INTRODUCTION
BANNER
— Influence of Gothic literature — The modern Gothic hero/heroine
3-7
SKETCHES
02
01
3-7
— Composition — Installation
APPLICATION
— Alternative worlds — The youths
3-7
3-7
MOTIFS
PATTERN
— Little monsters — Ornamental florets — Tiny tattoos — Decadent youths 3-7
CONTENT
CONTENT
INTRODUCTION
HEROINE
Gothic literature— The Picture of Dorian Gray
Beauty and the supernatural
The modern Gothic heroines
‘Modern Decadence’ is influenced by the Gothic novel The Portrait of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. The tale describes the absolutely beautiful man Dorian Gray who, under the influence of the hedonistic worldview of an aristocrat, seek to preserve his youth and beauty. He was the subject of his artist-friend’s portrait, and upon the completion of the painting, he decided to sell his soul in exchange for eternal youth. Dorian Gray went on to live a life of luxury and moral sins. Each doing causes the portrait to age and alter monstrously. Eventually, Dorian decides to free his conscience and destroy the painting, killing himself in the process.
‘Modern Decadence’ seeks to interpret the key ideas of the novel in a contemporary manner.
‘Modern Decadence’ is a femalecentric illustration. The characters are a recreation of the tradtional Gothic heroines.
The key themes of this novel are Aestheticism and duplicity. Aestheticism is an art movement that emphasizes on the aesthetic values in various forms of artwork, rather than focusing on any underlying socio-political themes. This art movement is also closely related to the term ‘decadence’ which means luxury or a moral and cultural decline. The novel combines the element of horror to emphasize these themes.
INTRODUCTION
INFLUENCE
The idea for the motifs derive from the movement Aestheticism, in which aesthetic values are perceived to be the most important aspect of the work. Through my interpretation, each motif is precisely illustration and highly stylized. The florals included this work symbolised the aesthetic value: flowers are ornamental here, and its role is to beautify. Beauty is another main facet of the novel which my work is inspired by. Throughout the book, the idea of beauty is only described by mere words, but up to the reader to make up their own vision of what beauty is. Just how beautiful is Dorian Gray in your eyes? Beauty is subjective and often a tiresome debate in society today. My work does not aim to put forth a standardized version of beauty, but rather to celebrate the notion of beauty across contemporary sub-cultures with an influence of the Gothic and horror.
They are not wicked vampiress, nor slayers. Neither are they the fragile female that is in distress, waiting for a Byronic hero to save them. These are the girls who are influenced by the style of modern underground culture: the punks, the New-Wave gothics, the cyberpunks. The cultures which are derivative of the Gothic and Romanticism.
04
03
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
SKETCHES 1: ALTERNATIVE WORLDS
SKETCHES
06
05
SKETCHES
Alternative worlds— brainstorming landscapes and creatures.
SKETCHES
SKETCHES 1: ALTERNATIVE WORLDS
07
08
SKETCHES
SKETCHES
SKETCHES 1: YOUTHS
SKETCHES
10
09
SKETCHES
The youths: Originally meant to be digitally illustrated. They were also half human, half-creatures.
SKETCHES
SKETCHES 1: YOUTHS
SKETCHES
12
11
SKETCHES
The youths: Originally meant to be digitally illustrated. They were also half human, half-creatures.
SKETCHES
MOTIFS
SKETCHES
14
13
MOTIFS
SKETCHES
BANNER
SKETCHES
Composition
Installation at ADM building, level 1
16
15
BANNER
SKETCHES
APPLICATION
APPLICATION
15
16
Zombie Tshirt line
Temporary tattoos Musical instruments
SKETCHES
SKETCHES