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Issue 1
May 2014
Form Follows Function An Exploration of Modernism and Postmodernism
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Made to Last Artist’s Role Cabinet of Curiosity Brief Initial Ideas Evaluation Childhood Game Earth Artefact Brief Initial Ideas Visual Research Research: Story Behind the Photo Research: Timeless Design Evaluation Laws and Censorship Street Graphic Brief Initial Ideas Evaluation Modernism Vs Postmodernism Modernism Postmodernism Type Transcript No Influences The Fashion Industry Manifesto
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Outside of university, I participated in collaborating with a friend of mine. Mel Williams makes and decorates cakes whilst also teaching sugar craft at a local college. For my grandparent’s Diamond wedding anniversary, I restored my grandparent’s original wedding photograph to full colour.
After sixty beautiful years of marriage, my grandparents still offer all of their love and devotion to each other. On the day of their surprise party, where most of our family gathered, my grandparents were awe struck by the cake and amazed at seeing their wedding photograph for the first time in colour. When cutting the cake, my grandfather leant over to my grandmother and whispered, “I remember the first time we did this, and you still look as beautiful.” With this being heard, we knew that this recognition of the length of time in marriage was truly well deserved. The Queen sent a letter of congratulations as well, which shows that such a
5 momentous occasion is grandmother has been To be a couple who still
Cake by Mel Williams and Art and Photography by Ruth Willis
love each other as much as the day they wed sixty years later, is admirable and to be a goal in any relationship. I am proud to call them my grandparent’s. Through thick and thin they have stayed by each others’ sides.
Rogers’ Diamond Cake, and Photography
just as rare as a person there for my grandfather turning one hundred. through his heart attacks and their recoveries as We must stay strong in well as his own brush our relationships. With with mortality. With divorce becoming as old age comes many easy as buying a new health problems and car, we must remember inevitabilities, but I that once upon a time know that no matter people believed that what, they will remain when you make your husband and wife, bed, you should lie in it. with all the love that comes with it. Also, people in this era were thrifty in the sense that when something was broken, they fixed it. This value in life is possibly the most needed in modern day society. They have both been there for each other during times of hardship, such as both of them outliving their parents and other family issues. They dealt with poverty and looking after their two children. My grandfather has been there through my grandmother’s stroke and the ongoing recovery and her near death experience. As has my
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An artist narrates the world visually, but why are they needed? The role of an artist can be one of breaking conformity and aiding in peacekeeping aims. They may not always be perceived as good people since some aim to change the minds of audiences. Therefore, the question remains: is being an artist a matter of ethical principles or is it just a form of martyrdom.
From an academic point of view, you could say that what an artist does is similar to that of a psychologist Sigmund Freud, the famous psychoanalyst, tells that that a person needs to narrate their way around a trauma in order to get over it. With careful guidance, a person can deal with emotional traumas. From the more vocational perspective of art, you could apply Freud’s theory to how art works. The artists would be the middle man, in that they would be the ones constructing
psychologist Foucault, states that we are all subjects of social institutions, for example a student of university or a family member. We need to follow some often unwritten rules to remain in these institutions, so being controversial is not an option unless that person wants to Dreamers are often be considered “ill”. frowned upon in modern day society, Artists are required to as explained to us express their dreams, through the life story which potentially of John Lennon and in could mean veering his song “Imagine”. off these laid paths they The world is never ready ought to be consciously for controversial ideas. following. To put it literally Philosopher and the narrative. This means that a person would just need to comprehend the artwork in order to recover from whatever they are dealing with. Hypothetically, this could mean that the artist is painting their own dreams in order to narrate their own problems.
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a person will be turning their subconscious into consciousness and that is what is considered not conforming to institutional discourse. The world wants conformity and that could potentially mean being under a form of a communist regime. Would this then hypothesise that it is not ethicalto wake a dreamer, being that most people agree that communism is a negative form of political control? It is far too easy to lose the innocence in being allowed to dream in society today. Artists Marcel Duchamp and
Sarah Lucas explain that innocence dies with the growth of maturity. Eyes sting when they see light for the first time, and so does losing innocence. The Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet film “Finding Neverland� is the perfect example of what an artist’s job is. Artists paint dreams we no longer see, for the purpose of bringing a person back
to their younger, more carefree self, with guidance. We must take responsibility for keeping the arts alive. Art is a potential cure for conformity and the reminder of naivety once lost. We must not wake a dreamer.
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Collect written and visual information based around your personal experiences and interests in order to develop them further.
Many artists capture experiences and moments in time in their work. Many examples can be seen, including that of Joseph Cornell and the Brother Quay. Using your personal experiences create a Cabinet of Curiosity or Shrine. This can be virtual, static or physical.
Do not be too literal with final outcomes, for example just creating a collage or postcard image. Do not merely collect elements of your experiences and haphazardly make art out of what you find. Create final pieces from compulsion in order to best hold onto these experiences. The final piece(s) should be a momento mori or a miniature theatre of the mind. You have access to the services of Queen St, South if you need to create a physical piece.
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Inks, Photography and Digital Art
Reborn Cabinet of Curiosity Project
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11 After mind mapping my ideas, I came up with the epiphany of creating a few final designs as if they were to be entered into a gallery of such. The art works would be based on stories we tell. During life we are told many stories, most of which we pass onto future generations. These can often be life lessons or of people once with us. The main stories that come to mind are of relatives I have either never met or have passed before I can really remember.
He in one way is the narrator of these stories and the only gateway I have as such, to that part of the family. Other stories that I gleaned were of specific family members, one of which is no longer with us. Outside of the family, I decided that perhaps a personal story would be an idea. It would be relatable to many other people: the loss of ancestral connection. I only knew my Great Auntie Mary for a few short years, but her death was the first I finally comprehended what it meant to lose someone.
Stories like these can shape the way we grow up, including our wish for future children to evolve. They not only keep our history alive but they also help us understand how we can deal with certain situations by looking at how our ancestors The real question would have dealt with them. be how to manufacture all of this raw emotion and On initial thoughts, specific personal history. Having stories came to mind. researched into the style of Firstly: I never met my psychological assessment, father’s parents; my paternal the Rorschach test helped grandparents died before I me consider possible was born. Because of this, I aesthetics and design ideas. only know them because of The Rorschach test requires what my father has told me. a patient to answer what they
see in the ink blot provided. The answers given are then analysed by a psychologist who will decide the mental state of the patient. This made me think that the final pieces I would create would not need to be clear as such, as long it could be interpreted by a key audience. Alternatively, the Rorschach test aids in attempting access to a person’s personality and thinking process. With this in mind, I researched into expressive art and specific designers and artists who work in similar mediums. I found Petra Dufkova motivating and in turn experimented in the methods she used, whilst also developing them further. With the help of online tutorials and trial and error, I managed to create a final aesthetic format that I would consider using for this project.
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Mary’s Goodbye, The Empty Chair, Grow Up, Parental Role Models and Love Goals (From Left To Right) Cabinet of Curiosity Project Inks, Photography and Digital Art 1361x1361
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Stories of Cabinet WhatofOnce Was Curiosity Project Inks, Photography and Digital Art
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My final pieces for this project have both positive and negative aspects. As artists we will always see the negative, but it is our prerogative to either justify our decisions or to state our opinions. This project posed a few hurdles for me. I found that delving deep into emotional personal history caused a lot of emotions to resurface. However, this added depth to the production of these pieces. “Stories of What Once Was” brought up much
heartache for my father and aunt, as these three individual photographs had never been seen altogether. The connotations behind the final image caused great passion to overflow. As an artist, I can honestly say that it was then that I realised that what I had produced
was right. If my art can be interpreted to help narrate a person from A to B, like in my essay regarding the artist’s role, then I have done my job. This could be described as showing empathy but in general follows the maxims laid down by Freud. This shrine
17 into their own emotional captures a single woman, well. The lost confused child in “Reborn” displays a level of pain in the developmental phase of life. The silent loneliness of “The Empty Chair” shouts hurt. In “The Stories That Once Was” hope is shown from the perspective of the artist, myself, linking historical reference to my late paternal grandparents and my aspirations.
Life’s Baggage
Cabinet of Curiosity Project
Digital Art
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may have been a personal project, but many other people share these stories. In design, I was committed to certain pieces more than others. This link can be seen in “Stories of What Once Was”, “Reborn” and “The Empty Chair” in comparison to the remaining five. These three capture an ethereal essence in that the colours flow in theme and it is left to the audience to be enticed
“Love Goals”, “Parental Role Models” and “Mary’s Goodbye” do show a theme in colour and style. There we have two sets of couples and a singlet. In “Love Goals” my maternal grandparents fulfil the title given in which they have just celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary. They are in as much love today as the day they were wed as evidenced in my article “Made to Last”. My parents, pictured in “Parental Role Models”, married later in life and after twenty plus years remain best friends as well as husband and wife. Both of these couples put family at the heart of their lives, celebrating together, crying together and caring for each other even through the difficult stages in life. “Mary’s Goodbye”
my great aunt, who although never finding that one true love, devoted herself to the family around her and her religious beliefs. She worked as a carer in the community until the age of seventy and supported me in my younger life until she died in her eighties.
The work “Grow Up” evidences a change in colour structure and the surface appears cracked representing the sorrow in a baby having to grow up, understanding the difference between love and loss, life and death, innocence and knowledge. If I were to go back and change this, I would make it more about the story I was trying to tell. I would also make the aesthetics more like the rest. The eighth piece, “ L i fe ’s B a g g a g e ” , draws all of the above groups of images to finality in colour and sentiment. Again there is a level of abstract which allows the audience t o construct their own culmination if indeed the story ends. In this light I could, in time, develop this project further.
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We all know the game where we start a drawing, hide what we have drawn and let someone else continue the picture. Not many people know that its actual name is “The Exquisite Corpse” and it was invented by surrealists in the 30’s, pioneered by André Breton. The concept of this mere childhood game is a lot broader than it initially seems. When I was a child, the exquisite corpse was played to both entertain and to break the ice in classroom settings. In one sense you could say that this game attempted to fill the void of loneliness. Also, the segments of each drawing can be analysed from a psychological stand point to try and gain insights into who a person is. A logical progression could show signs of an intelligent person; an elaborate progression would show a creative mind ; an innappropriate progression could show
remove the pangs of loneliness, though it did not work too well in his favour. In the Sandvoss film, multiple women are harvested in order to save one life, curing death, filling the void, once again, of loneliness and to eradicate the There are many feelings of the loss of a loved one. perspectives taken on the theory of the exquisite corpse. The Steve Sandvoss In the movie “The film, “The Exquisite Exquisite Corpse Project” Corpse” and the famous the concept of the novel “Frankenstein” exquisite corpse was demonstrates filling the taken to a written form, in void of companionship. order to bring a group of Frankenstein’s monster friends together for one was constructed to last time. The concept signs of an immature mind. If each part of the drawing can tell us a lot about an individual player then the exquisite corpse is a gateway to knowing someone, filling the void of the absence of knowledge.
19 Exquisite Corpse
Jake Chapman and Dinos Chapman Etching on Paper 2000
was used to mask, for just a few moments, the fact that they will all soon be dispersed and will inevitably be lonely without their close companions near. Each section scripted by each individual, can be psychoanalysed, each segment represents each person and shows that there is quite a contrast in everyone’s writing style. This could possibly be a metaphor for psychological distancing between each character as their inevitability of leaving each other becomes more real.
The anthropmorphising and personifying of the exquisite corpse is a matter of life. The international film project of the exquisite corpse brought people together for one common finality just like the process of farming and produce selling. Someone will plant the food, but it takes many people and stages before that food can be eaten after being bought. This process would be for the inevitable filling of the void of hunger.
In applying the exquisite corpse concept to the bigger picture, life is what it is all about. Life is made up of segments and the final outcome of each set of segments will fill some sort of void.
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The ‘Golden Record’ was a vinyl record sent into space inside the spacecraft Voyager, in hopes that alien life forms would find it and attempt to communicate with us after they learnt about us. The record consisted of a library of information including images of Earth as it was back in the 70’s, different greetinging in many including whale, saying different greetings and some of our arrays of knowledge like mathematics and science.
Submitvisualandwrittenproposalsfor a new version of Voyager’s ‘Golden Record’ entitled ‘Earth Artefact’. This does not have to be a reproduction of theoriginal‘GoldenRecord’,butcould be a more contemporary version. All of this however, should be reflected in the content and its format, or media channel, of choice. The documents should contain all stages of research and design processes and demonstrate a critical understanding of the design challenge. Be inventive and demonstrate ingenuity in solving this design challenge. It is important to generate several possible solutions and taking one justifiable design forward as a final piece.
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The Best Classroom is at the Foot of Your Ancestors Earth Artefact Photography and Digital Art 10x30
After mind mapping my ideas, I came up with the epiphany of creating a book of the stories our ancestors told us, in the hopes that future generations can learn from them. Our ancestors are perhaps the worldliest wise people we know. In brainstorming, I came up with the idea to create more of a time capsule than something that ‘aliens’ would read. With not really believing in the alleged realities behind E.T., Independence Day and Close Encounters I decided to look into
what the project held by it is clear to see that the times Voyager would become. have changed. Looking into other objects that Voyager If Voyager were to return took, photographs and text home we would realise that are perhaps the most timeless it captures a moment in time. mediums in the shuttle. With this Vinyl record use is about as in mind, a book would be deemed rare now as images of non- more appropriate than anything polluted cities. The concepts that would require technology of “The Golden Record” may to decipher. With technology have seemed timeless at the constantly changing there moments of its production, but would be no point in
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attempting to use it in a time response around their family or capsule setting. marriage. Some recalled coming home after what seemed forever What would future generations away from their loved ones. want to hear? I was always taught that the best classroom The second question, “what in the world was at the foot of is a tough time that you have the elderly. In taking this idea worked through”, gave quite on board, I decided to develop an emotional response. There it further and with the help of were only one set of answers the RAF and many requests to this question and came as on social media sites, I spoke no surprise: coming home and to some veterans who were with scars war had caused. still alive. I asked them three specific questions and many The final question sparked an people responded in the same even more emotive response: way. “If you could tell a future generation one thing, what would it The first question, “what is be?” Most of the men I spoke to your favourite memory”, got a told stories of their regrets in life
and encouraged people to live wisely. One man responded, “I would tell my daughter that I was sorry for not being there for here when she was growing up.” I took these responses and decided that as a final piece I should make a hypothetical file containing the stories these brave men wanted to tell to future generations. I decided to make it more intimate by hypothetically allowing the veterans to handwrite these stories, if possible, so that future generations would feel more attached to what they left behind, long after these service men were gone.
24 I decided that gaining some information about the life and times of people who lived through the World Wars and beyond, that I should visit the St Fagan’s Natural History Museum in Wales. Also to acquire better insight into whom I would be producing this publication for, I decided to visit the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. St Fagans gave me more insight to the home life of these generations and showed how they would have lived and some of the lifestyle choices. From a design perspective, researching into what the world would have looked like during this era was very important. My document would represent these people, and I had to give them justice. The Arboretum opened my eyes as to how many different sectors played parts in all the wars and battles we have had, and still are, participating in today. The mass graves and memorials proved that the yet untold stories of these men and women needed to be explored. The amounts of families involved were great, so nearly every person in the UK would have had at least one relative who fought for their country. This project has the potential to affect the lives of so many people if it weren’t hypothetical.
The Fallen Warriors of Late Earth Artefact Photography National Memorial Arboretum 2014
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Storm Over South Atlantic Campaign Memorial Earth Artefact Photography National Memorial Arboretum 2014
27 Division of Graves Earth Artefact Photography National Memorial Arboretum 2014
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Central Royal Air Force Memorial Earth Artefact Photography National Memorial Arboretum 2014
Memorial Door to Peace Earth Artefact Photography National Memorial Arboretum 2014
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Memorial of the Persecuted Earth Artefact Photography National Memorial Arboretum 2014
The Abandoned Flowers Earth Artefact Photography National Memorial Arboretum 2014
32 In Search of the Lost, Salute to a Friend,(From Thetop Fallen to bottom)
Earth Artefact
Photography National Memorial Arboretum 2014
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A Walk to Remember Earth Artefact Photography National Memorial Arboretum 2014
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History Shopping Earth Artefact Photography
St Fagan’s Natural History Museum 2014
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Tabloids, Discussions of Important Documents, The Meeting, Secrets Behind(From theleftWalls to right)
Earth Artefact Photography
St Fagan’s Natural History Museum 2014
38 Ancestors Through the Lens of a New Generation Earth Artefact Photography
St Fagan’s Natural History Museum 2014
In further exploration of the museum, I noticed that during the eras of war time hardship there were more photographs in a home.
Linking this to my project, I questioned how I could use this fact. I looked into the possibilities of using old photographs personal to the veterans whom I had met. Many of them still had pictures of themselves in uniform as for them it was a proud moment in their lives.
picture represented the person who was waiting for them when they arrived home. He also explained that the pictures were a time capsule representing the person who they fell in love it. His in particular reminded him of how much their love had grown since he received the picture whilst overseas.
Others had pictures still of their sweethearts, some no longer with us. The pictures, I was told by one sergeant, held memories for them. The person in the
The concepts behind the keepsake pictures triggered an epiphany that I would later use in the creation of my final piece.
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When at St Fagans, I found a few elements of graphic design that interested me. As with most earthy objects, items can often decay. A magazine that I found was slightly water damaged and the pages were cracked and dog-eared and signs were rusted and had corroded with the weather. With this being said, colours remained bright and distinguished. This also made me think. St Fagans relies on not only financial donations but donations of history from the general public. All objects and most buildings there are from the designated eras. Someone took the time to collect and keep these old magazines from purchase to now. This meant that perhaps being timeless was more about sentiment that physicality.
41 Woman’s Magazine October 28th 1950 Earth Artefact Photography
St Fagan’s Natural History Museum Photographed in 2014
Cadbury’s Ad 1924 Earth Artefact Photography
Photographed in 2014
42 My final piece was a hypothetical 10cmx30cm book that consisted of photography and the names and stories of some of the people I had spoken to. This piece was never finalised as such because the project is on-going. Specialised nursing homes dealing with Veterans and, the charity that my great aunt fundraises for, BLEMSA is still interested in this project as it has seemingly helped their patients in a glimmer of recovery from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Talking to someone about specific issues can help a person on the road to recovery. To recap and recall happy times when the only forethought is of stressful relapsing moments is perhaps the best cure for anxiety. With this being said I had issues with data protection and safeguarding vulnerable adults during the start of this project. After signing several forms and having to create my own forms for some of my interviewees to sign, I managed to gain access to the nursing homes and mailing lists. This initially put me behind time. Deciphering which questions I should ask when I finally gained access was time consuming also. On
my first few interviews I worked out which were the best questions to ask. After these three questions were established I could speed up my interviewing technique and make the project a lot larger. I could then send out mass emails and use social media to aid in the numerical expansion of my potential interviewees. During interviewing in person, I realised some initial problems. The majority of people I was talking to were a lot older than me, ranging from 30 to one hundred. A side from the obvious hearing problems the majority of elderly people have from age or industry, these people spoke in a different manner to me. I had to
use my ability in speaking with great etiquette and respect. There were also other issues as I was shocked that some veterans I interviewed were a lot younger than I had anticipated, for example, one man was in his thirties. I devised a questionnaire form for when I was talking to people in person. This aided as a mental trigger to remind me what questions I needed to ask, as well as to make notes. I recall with one gentleman, that he was very emotional about some of the regrets he had in his life. Trying to distance myself was difficult and I was somewhat thankful when the interview was
Time Capsule Mock Up Insert Earth Artefact Photography 10cmx30cm
over so I could regain my composure. I realised then, that sometimes these answers were too personal, and for the sake of protecting these men, I would need to perhaps paraphrase or conclude what they were saying when putting them into the book to respect their dignity. This project moved me as I was never interested in the concepts of war. I only saw war as a generalisation and did not stop to consider the individuals involved. I am glad that this project is not over and that it is continuing amongst these groups of heroes. I will look forward in publishing many issues of this book per one hundred people.
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The world as we know it has always been governed by rules. Postmodern dern artists see rules as something to be broken. New discoveries and ideas can never be made from following basic principles. Rules can affect the art world and we must be conscious of the boundaries we push. The Image of Law is a treatise written to take the idea of the conceptual and suggests we evolve a particular style of thinking. We assume, in law, that a judiciary applies laws that have already been set. Theorist and philosopher Lefebvre tries to explain that the concept of judgement as largely involving a set of creative strategies. A case could involve many complex situations and may have many potential outcomes. When the law is questioned, or broken by an artist, although they may receive consequences, they are not persecuted as much and are not subsequently
sentenced fairly. Examples can be seen in the celebrity world where they receive punishment for doing wrong that would be the equivalent of fining the average person two pence. It appears that famous artists get away with a lot more in a jury based trial as they can afford better defence lawyers. In conclusion, arts can push boundaries as the punishments do not take into account these people’s earnings. In attempting to challenge the laws around us, protests and political art can be very powerful. Advertising campaigns such as those that PETA and Guerrilla Girls have used, acquire shock tactics
in order to be noticed. Although these tactics may work, they can often be for the wrong reasons. For every controversial decision, there is a backlash. Being controversial can often be percieved as offensive and questions how far an artist can push are often raised. A child will often push boundaries set by parents, but only so far as they know there will be a punishment. Grotesque images often make a point and through influential manipulation can change the mind of an audience. Many parents agree that these types of campaigns are not suitable for all eyes.
45 Here’s The Rest of Your Fur Coat Advertising Campaign
PETA 2011
Graphic images and bold art pieces need to be made for a specific audience and for persons with high levels of maturity. Artists such as Damien Hirst keep their artwork in a gallery so that not everyone is forced to witness it. Art based on mortality is definitely for more specialised audience. The purpose of these pieces would not be critical and not forced upon public, like in Banksy’s work. There are of course both pros and cons to censorship. Children learn through experience. The question of why we shouldn’t show c o n t r o v e r si a l ite m s to
our children still remains. n o t worry the general Many still question if it public. Propaganda causes would be robbing our paranoia. children of their innocence if we did show them. We do not want to cause a negative uprising. We strive In conclusion, controversial to change the world for the art should be distributed better. The viewing of this wisely and not overly kind of artwork though censored. During both should be up to the potential World Wars the government viewers discretion and created censorship laws should not be forced upon s o that s oldiers’ someone. letters home and the newspapers would
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This experimental work and research should form the basis of an exhibition that explores the role of influential graphic language of the street. It is required to research into the graphic language of the street and how imagery, artefacts and ephemera, of all kinds, bombard the senses with visual messages and experiences. Select a suitable subject matter to develop further. This research can be presented in any suitable medium with several design options.
From the research, develop the most appropriate concept and produce a cohesive body of work that explores it. The presentation of this work may be in any appropriate medium including static images, moving images, virtual displays, animations or physical installations.
48 A few ideas arose after initial mind mapping, some of which seemed more appropriate to take forward in further development. I finally came up with the idea of an advertising campaign to help people explore the areas they live. With this being our first brief, I realised that even though I now lived in Huddersfield, I had not yet explored it as much as some other people. A lot of people knew the town and its surrounding beautiful areas. I had not taken the time to explore where I would be living. Moving around a lot as a child, I noticed that I never really took the time to explore what was local to me at the time. I only really went to the places I had to and did not make the effort to go further.
their slogan is “Scotland “What if your skin showed might surprise you”. where you hadn’t been?” and decided to name it the I opted to aim this advert “Mapping Project”. at students and people my own age as we are only in the area for a few short years. Students, who are not from the feeder colleges, will only tend to explore where they need to and no further. For this reason, weeks like “Fresher’s” week, would be ideal to set up this sort of campaign. Students are perhaps more likely to want to investigate the local area in the initial weeks of university than any other The guilt of this fact made time in the academic year. me want to create this advertising campaign. I I felt that this campaign Industrialisation in Age Photography wanted to open people’s would be best in the form Street Graphic eyes to the places they of posters. I opted to use 2014 had not yet seen. Even in a tactics similar to NSPCC city, there are still areas of adverts where guilt great beauty. I took note of tripping people seemed to how the “Visit Scotland” work. With this being said tourism adverts where I came up with the slogan
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Skin Mapping Female Model and Skin Mapping MaleMixed Model Media
Street Graphic 2014
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As in all projects, this one did not go without its problems. With this being the initial project at university it was difficult in both finding my feet and learning new techniques that were expected of us. This was the first project I had already done this artistic experimentation given to us at the beginning project and failed to take and layering techniques of the academic year. The into account that I could on my newly found transition from home do so much more with it. Adobe Photoshop skills, I managed to combine to university had been difficult. My mind went I could have put in a lot photography and this art. back to a time when I more effort and could have The final pieces made was in high school being made a final piece that the models look ill and given the title of a project: included the vast amount distorted which was the Street Art (Metropolis). of visual research I had exact final outcome I was hoping for. At this time I was going done. Over the course of through personal trauma a few weeks I managed in my health and was to use my photography If I had the time, I would isolated from normal skills to collect loads of go back and start this teaching techniques, images. I also looked into project again with a new, unable to tolerate any prior projects I had done more open mind set. This noise and in unimaginable in college and high school project served the purpose pain. The connection that linked in, like the of showing us the step up to higher education that graffiti projects. between that period and we had to make. I am this project brought with it the continuation of this My final pieces consisted proud that I persevered memory and I struggled of using my skills in mixed with this project but I am to focus on the task at media art work to create not proud of the outcome hand in developing this a few shock campaign and I am angry in myself project fully. I felt like pieces. With the help of for not breaking through.
2014
Street Graphic
Sign Post Breaking Through a Storm Photography
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54 Dangerous Crossing Photography 2010
Modernism is defined in many ways. Dating between 1880 and 1945, modernism was the birth of post modernity. The significant line drawn between the two is very faint and not very notable. The idea of there being a sudden change in which to define the two is preposterous. The truth of the matter is that they are just a symbiotic growth, influenced by sociological, technological and industrial factors. Modernism mostly relies be due to the fact that we interests. Old fashioned on rules and constrictions have a more contempory ways such as that in an whilst still maintaining a culture now. It is easier to ideological family setting subtle hint of individuality. mass advertise and gain would be a main focal Works would be made for international awareness. point to the pieces of the purpose of art and not In the times of alleged the time. As times have for mass distribution. Art modernism, this was not changed, making getting pieces would be unique really an option. Portrait divorced easier and being in their own right as they artists for example would an atheist less taboo, would be the only ones have had just word of the ideas of monotheism, produced. Postmodern art mouth as their only self- polytheism and gender is mass produced and very advertisement. inequality have become less commercial. important. Alternatively, Modernism artworks would ideas, like those defining This in itself could be a be based on fixed topics, for modernity, have grown defining factor between example religion, mythology up to be less naive and more the two but it could also or other meaningful understanding and forgiving.
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Post modernity suggests that art work does not necessarily need a meaning as someone will want it regardless. Postmodern art works dating from 1945 to the present day have been called flat and meaningless. The critiques opinions do not take into account that all works have a purpose, the sole being to sell. Arguments between post modernists and modernists remain today, but in one sense the arguments are not
between these two defined categories, but more so by opinions of art practise. More traditional arts will always have a different taste to that of more modern artists. Technological factors have changed a lot in the past few centuries, but that doesn’t mean we must continue moving with the times. No matter how much the times change, there will always be a niche market for specific artworks in their designated mediums.
In conclusion, we should not define the two. We should only embrace the fact that our normative statements are not positive statements. Opinions can be contested but they will forever just be opinions on aesthetics and practise and nothing more. This statement however verges on the potential critical theories of post postmodernism.
56 From post impressionism to surrealism and the establishment of Bauhaus to the rebellion involved with Dada, modernism truly shows a growth in the abilities of artists. The days between 1880 and 1945 contained some of the greatest technological, sociological and industrial changes known to man. From aiding in making the processes of aluminium more economical to the Manhattan project, many influences were around at the time. The late 1800’s saw mass education become widely available to all in the UK. Education has been said to be the route of philosophy and that knowledge is power. Art may have not been a favoured profession during this era, but the comprehension behind artwork became greater. The cognition to understand also means that there is an ability to have the capacity to think for one’s self.
show that when a person has knowledge, they can act upon it in a political or philosophical way. The Harlem Renaissance for example, was a form of uprising to try and aid in equality against the current white supremacy at the time. Industrialisation may have been the stimulation for the likes of art movements that produced the 1927 film Metropolis and Precisionism. As the cityscapes changed, the art world became more cubic and architectural, focusing on this new found surroundings.
Bauhaus was established in 1919 in an attempt to give art a more economical purpose. During this time the world was plunged into the Great The emergence of the likes Depression and needed of Dada-ism, Surrealism something to stimulate and the Harlem Renaissance aggregate demand across
the world, i.e. to stimulate economic growth once more. Aggregate demand is made up of four factors: the consumer, investments, the government plus exports minus imports. The type of school that Bauhaus is, aided in the production of goods that consumers would purchase. Investors would have taken the time to look into the possibilities to help grow their own businesses with these new found artists. The products manufactured here were not only to make a dark world seem a bit brighter, but were also there to try and stimulate people’s purchasing habits. The government now allows educational grants to keep a school established. The school would export more than they import, meaning they will gain a higher profit and in doing so help the country grow economically.
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From abstract expressionism to Neo Expressionism and the birth of Pop Art to the subtle rebellion involved with Minimalism, postmodernism truly shows a growth in the need for breaking free. Between 1945 and the present day postmodernism has been finding its feet. With influences in the same categories as modernism, it is clear to see that postmodernism has grown into its rebellious teen years. Postmodernism tests the boundaries laid down by modernists. It argues against conformity, which in its own way is a form of conformity, a paradox if you like. Although this borderlines on the theories of post-postmodernism. This art movement bases its aims on commercialism. In a contempory and commercial world, artists have started to exploit the general public. Art, such as minimalism, rebels in
massive influence here as well, as bright colours and ‘flower power’ emerged. Nature’s bright colours reflected on the manmade mediums. Screen printing Conversely pop art was not was easy enough and linked a rebellion but rather based back to old methodologies its routes in other forms of whilst using it in new ways. commercialism. In the 50’s and 60’s the world was Similarly, Photorealism going through a post-war rose up against the mass baby boom. Men who had use of photography. Some been fighting in the war postmodernists claimed that probably missed much of technology was a form of their teen and young adult shortcut and they could do life. Wanting to catch up on the same tasks technology what they had lost. Bright could. The niche market colours and geometric for this boomed in the late shapes resembled that seen sixties as people appreciated in young life. Textured the time and effect gone in artworks were easily to create such perfection in accessible and mass traditional mediums. produced. The music and the fashion trends were a the sense that it has no emotional purpose, only to sell. Consumers only want what looks ‘pretty’, not to mention that less is more.
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With taking inspiration from LS Lowry’s paintings, I designed form of typography.
Going to the Match LS Lowry Painting 1953
typeface that only hints at a letter and is not fully clear.
Famous Lancashire artist LS Lowry is perhaps the most famous ‘stickman’ artist known to man. After his death in 1976 his artworks became more renowned than ever before. Glossop, in Derbyshire, still celebrates his contribution to the art world to this day with a commemorative statue in one of his favourite
spots to draw. This typeface I designed is based of his ‘stickman’ style. The ‘stickman’ style wasn’t theonlypartofLowry’sart that I used for inspiration. LS Lowry’s art is not one hundred percent clear and its figures tend to be androgynous which adds a little mystery. With this in mind, I created a
With the aid of tutorials online and in class, I constructed the typeface fromm drawn sketches to an Adobe Illustrator file. Type design states that there must be size similarities between each letter form, but I chose to ignore this for the sake of referencing LS Lowry, not to mention that everyone is a different shape and size in reality, so why not reproduce this in type form. The letters however do remain the same height for ease of use.
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General Public Typographic Transcript 150.pt
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During the course of this year, we were asked to write an essay on an influential designer in the 21st century. After not being inspired by any one artist, I decided to remodel the essay to question what we class as being influential and whether or not we should distinguish an influential designer in this century yet.
According to the Oxford dictionary, the word “influence” comes from the Latin word “Influere” which means “to flow into”. The idea that influence is a gradual process backs up my hypothesis. Sometimes, especially with a slow leak, the impact of consequence can only be witnessed after a long period of time. With only being fourteen years into the 21st century, I think it is safe to say that we cannot decipher who is influencing design in this age.
New designers strive in attemptingtobreaktherules and push boundaries of the industry they enter. In such a prominent industry it can be difficult to influence as
this can only be stemmed from innovation. These designers may have many new ideas but they tend to only be built on existing ones. Main examples can be seen in attempting to break the rules surrounding photojournalism and even more so in the erotica industry.
guilty pleasure, and some designers use aged erotica as their inspiration. A designer can always be happy in the knowledge that their work may one day be seen as “art” or “good design”. Linking this back though, it would just be building on prior innovations of the initial image production.
Erotic graphics, from as early as the Egyptian ages, were frowned upon at the time and considered taboo. The history books now dictate that these graphics are now classed as art. Similarly wartime pinups were once classed as disgraceful, but now we see people idolising the models. Erotica industries have come a long way since being a
One main focus in modern graphic design is the creation of logos and other stationary for companies, as it is the first thing a customer will see. Logos must rely on rules in order to work, for example: it must be versatile and simple enough to remember. For this reason, a person cannot influence this specific sector of design.
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prominent work remains outside of the 21st century, also excluding them from the parameters of my potential essay.
In the entertainment industry that produces fantasy books and comics again cannot have much of their design rules broken. Main influences such as Stan Lee remain the focus in modern times and people will aspire to emulate him. In one sense you could say that what isn’t broken should not be fixed. Although the styles continue to change with the rising of new talent, we will never see a
graphic novel that strays from its current graphic boundaries. Designers such as Neville Brody and David Carson were only classed as the most powerful designers of their times further into the century they worked, and sometimes even in the next century. Some artists and designers are still influential to this day, such as the artists already mentioned, but their most
In my opinion influencers should not be distinguished by a mere definitive marker such as a century. I believe that someone like this should be defined by when the person initially influenced the industry and when they stopped innovating. Some artists are still the main focus for growth in the establishment of graphic designers. Perhaps the main essay should have questioned a person’s influence in general and not constricted it with a date. This will allow less famous artists to be recognised for their impact on the individual and not on the industry.
64 Advertising Campaigns, Banners and Emails Misspap.co.uk Photography and Digital Art 2014
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I opted to take time out of University, during a workshop week. I felt that industrial experience would suit me better than the options available to us. Misspap.co.uk offered me an internship whilst their graphic designer was on holidays in March.
I was warned by several people that being an intern mainly involved being the waitress to the main staff and doing menial tasks. I prepared myself for a week of only shadowing members of staff, but was pleasantly surprised to find myself filling in for their graphic designer.
Whilst there I designed a few campaigns and emails. I used various Adobe Photoshop skills as well as learning new ones. I always thought that lecturers were insane asking us to devise several final solutions for one brief so that a client can choose, it was only whilst working with these people did I actually
realise why they had told us this. Making several final pieces can avoid the embarrassment of being asked to go back and try again.
Model casting was an interesting process. I realised that an art director has a lot to consider. Models may look great in one style of clothing, but in others not so well. Versatility is key in the modelling industry. Having a few models is better than needing many, for financial reasons. Art directors at castings need to be aware of these facts and whilst shadowing a photographer in a shoot, I realised how everything worked. Time
is money, and the last thing a company wants is to waste their money on a model that can only do certain looks. Aside from the practical side, I made many friends whilst there, sadly also witnessing some of the harsh realities of the fashionindustry.However, one colleague who I met was in the process of establishing her own fashion business, Lazy Vibes, and I will be looking forward to hopefully getting involved with the in the near future. Also I am happy to report that the company itself offered me a freelance position
66 I do not believe in defining oneself; definitions can be equivalent of a crucifixion of a person, object, or neologism. I could say that I am a philosopher, a ponderer of the controversial, an artist, an illustrator, a graphic designer, a photographer and an all-round creative person. This, however, would not be a good way to define myself, as I am much more and everyone has the potential to be so much more.
As an academic, I frown upon anyone who disgraces academia in order to replace it with artistry. Academia is perhaps more important than a knowledge of art and design alone. Academia is understanding. Without understanding, one cannot problem solve in a mature and sensitive way. Knowledge can be an art. Artists and designers strive to break the rules, but there is a fine line between controversy and the grotesque. I do not believe in editing the beauty of nature, but would do so if a client required me to. A job, is a job, is a job. In the world of employment, job satisfaction comes from the money. Pride in your work comesfromthecraftsmanship. Happiness comes in the inspiration. Morals and ethics should only come into play if you are willing to lose work.
In an economy such as this one, one cannot be choosey. In saying this, if you can separate your morals for the period of a job requirement, from what you know will put food on the table, then you will not lose yourself. You should always be reflected in your work, no matter what the subject matter or company it was made for. This can be done in craftsmanship, or style. An artist must be able to be distinguished by their work. Whether their heart and soul is in a project, or not, they must still uphold their standard of work. As a young individual it is easy to say “Oh, I’d never do that” when it comes to the subject matter of working in the industry for specific companies or companies that work in specific sectors. The truth is, however, for the right price, most human beings will
do practically anything. If I, personally, felt working for a certain company was doing something that I disagreed with, I would still do the design work I was employed for, but request to be kept anonymous unless they had my specific consent. I do not strive for fame, I strive for a comfortable life and nor do I strive to be rich, only to feed myself and not have to worry about the money on the majority of days. My future goals consist of just being happy in whatever I do and to always be inspired. Even in the shadows there can be beauty, you just have to look a little harder. There’s nothing wrong with challenging something, or being challenged. A challenge can often inspire me to push forward harder. Rugby scrums have nothing on me when it comes to
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pushing through to achieve something. Just because I’m not given foot holes to climb up the mountain, doesn’t mean I won’t forge my own or at least try. Being told that I cannot do tasks because of health or any other reason, does not mean I will not fight to at least try.
worlds unknown. Just because than just my ears when my I cannot hear the majority hearing started to fade. Art and of pitches anymore, does design should reflect on that. not mean I am not inspired One should not be limited to anymore. I am not limited just experience a piece in one to weakness, I am limited way. An experience is to be by the opinions I have of memorable for a long time, myself. I am not a self- not just five minutes. A piece confident person, rather a of work is an extension of the person who has knowledge experience of the designer or of myself. Every day I artist. Music used to inspire me. learn about myself and my The way music danced made abilities. I had to learn how my mind’s eye dream up to listen to music with more
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Ruth Willis
scarletruthmargaret.co.uk
BA(Hons) Graphic Design University of Huddersfield