in Research

Project 1 (b) : Thinking sequentially – text and image

In this project, we were challenged to reinterpret Fire and Ice, expressing the themes and moods of the text in A4 panels.


 

Fire and Ice
By Robert Frost
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

IMG_1935 (1)

 

The first panel represents fire. In the poem, fire is used as a synonym for desire and passion. Taking that one step further, I believe that it signifies how violence is used as a means to an end, and justified by the perpetrators because of how passionately they believe in their end goal. For instance, certain groups are willing to go to war and commit terrible crimes because they believe that it is required of them by their religious beliefs, as is the case of ISIS. As such, the first panel is very literal in the choice of pictures – a rifle, Hitler looking out over his empire, and a scene from the second world war. The eyes of the main figure in the middle have been covered to symbolise how people can be blinded by their convictions, and thus make irrational choices that if left unchecked could bring the world to an end.

IMG_1936 (2)

 

The second panel revolves around the concept of ice, and the coldness of the human soul. It focuses on the manipulative, emotionless and calculative side of the human nature, equally capable of committing terrible crimes against humanity as the burning fire of passion. There is a dollar bill conjoined to the malnourished torso of a North Korean child – what is the price of a life? Sometimes it is too easy to forget that the people bearing the brunt of our greed are the most undeserving – we should take action against a country that is violating basic human rights, but what if that jeopardises our trade and diplomatic ties with that country’s allies? There is also an image of mask with “God” painted on it – this symbolises how people have been playing god and manipulating others for personal benefit.

Hands are a recurring theme throughout the panels as I believe that hands are one of the tangible tools by which we mould and shape the world we live in, for better or for worse. It is an extension of ourselves, equally capable of censorship, wrongdoing and crime as it is capable of making a positive impact on the world. The choice is ours to make.

The background is composed of newspaper strips as news – be it in the form of television, radio, or the internet – is the main vehicle through which we learn of the tragedies happening in other parts of the world. This is especially true in the fairly sheltered, peaceful society we live in where such things are unheard of.


 

Research and artist reference 

For this assignment, I was particularly inspired by the work of artists of the Dada movement, with particular focus on Raoul Hausmann.

hausmann-tatlin-at-home-1920The Art Critic 1919-20 Raoul Hausmann 1886-1971 Purchased 1974 http://www.tate.org.uk/art/work/T01918ABCD-Hausmann

Hausmann used nontraditional forms of art, notably photomontages, as he believed it was closer to the work of the common man, not needing any refined artistic techniques as in traditional mediums. As a significant figure in the Berlin Dada movement, Hausmann was disgusted with the more traditional art styles and the lifestyles that they represented, and his collages were used as tools of satire and political protest. I felt this was especially apt for the message I wanted to convey, and for the serious, doomsday mood of the content.


 

Images used in collage

  1. “Frank Grillo Stars in New Trailer for The Purge: Anarchy.” Accessed September 14, 2015. http://www.gamesradar.com/frank-grillo-stars-in-new-trailer-for-the-purge-anarchy-watch-now/.
  2.  “100 Dollar Bill.” By Ngirl5621 on DeviantArt. Accessed September 14, 2015. http://ngirl5621.deviantart.com/art/100-dollar-bill-271780542.
  3. “10 Reasons Why Homosexual “Marriage” Is Harmful and Must Be Opposed.” TFP Student Action. Accessed September 14, 2015. http://www.tfpstudentaction.org/politically-incorrect/homosexuality/10-reasons-why-homosexual-marriage-is-harmful-and-must-be-opposed.html.
  4. “Dark and Emotional Portraits by Manuel Estheim.” Bleaq. June 2, 2014. Accessed September 14, 2015. http://www.bleaq.com/2014/manuel-estheim.
  5. “Split Decision.” Flickr. Accessed September 14, 2015. https://www.flickr.com/photos/photokayla/7238628334.
  6. http://www.esprit-creative.org/concepts/
  7. http://www.siws.fr/2013/05/03/27827/
  8. http://chuansong.me/n/954876
  9. http://echelledejacob.blogspot.sg/2011_09_03_archive.html
  10. http://www.fansshare.com/gallery/photos/12422168/tumblr-mqqyk-yfso-qbimneo/?displaying
  11. http://indulgy.com/post/3hS29kZbr1/black-and-white-beauty
  12. http://www.slickguns.com/ak-deals?page=1&sort=date&dir=asc
  13. http://www.qigaipo.com/vso-%E9%A5%A5%E8%8D%92%E6%9C%88%E5%9C%86%E4%B9%8B%E5%A4%9C.html
  14. http://photos.raftaar.in/gallery/submarine+uss+ohio~NL30sT1sS2uUO6vgIXZlxQ

Reference images 

  1. “Tatlin at Home.” UtopiaDystopia. 2013. Accessed September 14, 2015. https://utopiadystopiawwi.wordpress.com/dada/raoul-hausmann/tatlin-at-home/
  2. “The Art Critic.” UtopiaDystopia. 2013. Accessed September 14, 2015. https://utopiadystopiawwi.wordpress.com/dada/raoul-hausmann/the-art-critic/
  3. “Image vs. Substance: Perceptions of Beauty.” : “ABCD” by Raoul Hausmann. Accessed September 14, 2015. http://beautyovertime.blogspot.sg/2011/05/abcd-by-raoul-hausmann.html