“A ________ from the point of view
of _________ is ____________.”
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A bunch of ideas that I threw out there:
paint glitter weighing scale swimming pool movie theatre valentine’s day butcher tattoos / body modifications birds cactus wealth university education iPhone anxiety
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Eventually I decided to address the topic of tattoos; firstly because I’ve always had a personal interest in them, but mostly because I find them fascinating from a socio-cultural and historical standpoint. They’ve been around since pretty much the dawn of human civilisation (Historical records from the ancient Greeks mention tattoos as early as the 5th century BC) but unlike many of the practices and customs developed at the time, the practice of tattooing has remained an integral part of culture, then and now. It’s been adopted and assimilated across the globe, and has developed vastly different functions and associations depending on it’s context. What I find the most interesting about these changes is how tattoos have progressed from a means to achieve something – ritualistic worship, group inclusion – to an end goal in itself: for personal expression and aesthetics; how it’s changed from a ‘group’ experience to having a largely personal and private significance. It’s also remained highly controversial, and throughout it’s history has gone through both periods of stigmatization and reverence – sometimes both at once.
1) A tattoo from the point of view of a tattoo artist is a masterpiece/their livelihood.
2) Tattoos from the point of view of a sociologist is an example of deviance/subculture.
3) Tattoos from the point of view of corporate employers are unprofessional.
4) Tattoos from the point of view of enthusiasts are a form of decorative art/self expression.
5) Tattoos from the point of view of traditional values are taboo/criminal.
6) Tattoos from the point of view of traditional parents are a sign of bad company/bodily mutilation.
7) Tattoos from the point of view of secret societies is a symbol of hierarchy/pride.
8) Tattoos from the point of view of Japanese society is an association with the Yakuza.
9) Tattoos from the point of view of ancient Greek/Roman society is a mark of slavery/a form of punishment.
10) Tattoos from the point of view of Polynesian cultures are a sacred art form.
11) Tattoos from the point of view of sailors are amulets of protection/superstition.
12) Tattoos from the point of view of Thai culture bestow upon the wearer mystical powers, protection, or good luck.
13) Tattoos from the point of view of a coroner/forensic scientist are a means of identifying a corpse.
14) Tattoos from the point of view of Johnny Depp are stories to be told. (“My body is my journal and my tattoos are my story.”)
15) Tattoos from the point of view of the mid 20th century are a mark of rebellion.
16) Tattoos from the point of view of an anthropologist are an embodiment of human culture.
17) Tattoos from the point of view of a Holocaust survivor are a tragic reminder.
18) Tattoos from the point of view of a Nazi concentration camp warden are a means of systematic identification.
19) A tattoo from the point of view of an intoxicated person is a bad decision.
20) A tattoo from the point of view of a breast cancer survivor is a mark of bravery.
21) A tattoo from the point of view of a feminist is a rejection of conventional standards of beauty/an assertion of control over her body.
22) Tattoos from the point of view of an early 20th century circus is a freak show.
23) Tattoos from the point of view of pigs are a form of cruelty.
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Kind of unrelated, but came across this video (an advertisement from a tattoo cover up company) that shows exactly how important body art is in creating someone’s image.
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Plan B: Wealth (…. in case the tattoo idea doesn’t work out)
Wealth from the point of view of a terminally ill patient is health.
Wealth from the point of view of an orphan is family.
Wealth from the point of view of a businessman is money.
Wealth from the point of view of an animal is food.
Wealth from the point of view of ……………..
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Relief printing – Woodcut & Linocut prints
Woodcut and linocut prints are relief printing techniques used in printmaking. The artist carves an image into the surface of a block of wood or sheet of linoleum, and the surface of the block is then inked with a roller and printed, leaving an image only where the block has not been carved away.
Artist reference #1: Bryn Perrott
Perrott is a printmaker who transitioned into woodcarving from her background in carving relief prints. Her work is modelled on tattoo flash sheets and often utilises motifs from folk art, especially Mexican folk art. Having worked in a tattoo shop, her artwork has been visibly influenced by the style.
Artist reference #2: Monika Petersen
Petersen is an illustrator who now works as a printmaker specialising in lithographic prints. What draws me to her work most is the use of lines to create contours and texture on an otherwise two dimensional surface, and how simple yet detailed her creations are.
Artist inspiration #3: Evelyne Mary
Evelyne Mary is a French artist whom I can’t seem to find much information on because most (practically all) of the sites she’s featured on are in French. From what I gather, she appears to focus on engraving and the techniques it’s associated with, including but not limited to linocuts. I like her use of two colours in complementary harmony to create minimal yet stylistic images.
Inspiration #4: other examples of relief printing
HenriKuikens on Etsy
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Woodblock prints in Asian culture
Since my chosen approach relates a lot to culture, consultation gave me the idea to research on the significance of woodblock printing to different societies.
1) China
Block printing was first invented by the ancient Chinese to print multiple copies of books, usually used to spread Buddhist teachings. It was initially not regarded as a form of art, but rather a production method. Later in the 20th century, woodblock prints were used as a tool for political expression and propaganda, especially during the time of the Communist revolution.
Chinese woodcuts are traditionally created using wood from the jujube or pear tree.
2) Japan
Japanese woodblock prints are closely associated with the Ukiyo-e style of the 17th to 19th century. There were many different styles of prints, ranging from black and white, to hand painting colours over the prints, and eventually prints using many colours. Each print was made with multiple blocks, with each block adding another layer of colour.
Japanese woodcuts are usually done with wood from the cherry tree, or other close-grained wood.
3) Korea
Traditional Korean woodblock prints were initially used to print Confucian books and government documents, and were heavily influenced by Japanese printing.
4) India
Block printing is a method traditionally used in India to print on textiles, and are sometimes used in combination with hand painting. The motifs are usually printed in repetition to create a pattern, and stamps are carved on teak wood because it doesn’t absorb water or distort in size.
5) Singapore
Introduced by Chinese immigrant artists, woodblock printing gained popularity in Singapore in the postwar years, in particular the 1950s and 1960s. It was commonly used as a medium of social and political expression, and many of the images are created in a social realist style.
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Sources
1) http://guity-novin.blogspot.sg/2010/02/woodblock-printing-this-woodblock-print.html
2) http://www.chinaheritagequarterly.org/articles.php?searchterm=018_huangshan.inc&issue=018
3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tsunami_by_hokusai_19th_century.jpg
4) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takiyasha_the_Witch_and_the_Skeleton_Spectre#/media/File:Takiyasha_the_Witch_and_the_Skeleton_Spectre.jpg
5) http://www.china360online.org/geography-woodcuts/
6) https://depts.washington.edu/chinaciv/graph/9polwood.htm
7) http://www.ukiyoe-gallery.com/detail-d562.htm
8) https://aneclecticeccentric.wordpress.com/2013/05/05/fumio-fujita-abstract-modern-japanese-woodblock-prints/
9) https://www.nationalgallery.sg/collection/artwork-detail/P-0228/seascape?uuid=art_collection_20a4653f8eea21d9b16734e5611d64d2e15c41ec56532f3017193
10) http://www.eventbrite.sg/e/art-talk-singapore-woodblock-prints-of-the-1950s-and-1960s-fully-booked-tickets-9576181617
11) http://www.fabrico-ideas.eu/national-museum-of-singapore/
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